41-9090 The SOONER

media-30530.png UPL 30530 John Bernard Mayes Jr.
Photo courtesy of the Citadel Archives and Museum, Charleston, South Carolina (from https://www.thecitadelmemorialeurope.org/john-bernard-mayes-class-of-1940/ )

Photo courtesy of the Citadel Archives and Museum, Charleston, South Carolina (from https://www.thecitadelmemorialeurope.org/john-bernard-mayes-class-of-19… )

Object Number - UPL 30530 - John Bernard Mayes Jr. Photo courtesy of the Citadel Archives and Museum, Charleston, South Carolina (from...

Delivered MacDill 11 April 1942. Assigned 342BS/97BG Sarasota 26 April 1942. Presque Isle 29 May 1942. Flying from Goose Bay to Bluie West One at Narsarsuaq, Greenland on 27 June 1942 in foggy weather, with the impossibility to make radio contact and a too low gas supply, the Fortress had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One, Greenland. With Major Herbert C. Chambers on board, the pilot was John C. Nichols; Co-pilot: John B. Mayes Jr; Navigator: William M. Dorsett; Bombardier: Paul A. Blaida; Asst. Bombardier: Edward B. Weathers; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clarence B. Nichols; Radio Operator: Frank Val Alstine (?); Waist Gunner William M. Ivanhoff; Waist Gunner Frederick M. Wilson. The two passengers were Grover C. Williams and Thomas G. Burton (12 Returned to Duty).

Connections

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Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16004238 at enlistment, then O-724118
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16035613
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Places

Revisions

Date
ContributorChadF
Changes
Sources

My grandfather’s name was misspelled. The entry read, “Hubert C. Chambers;” his name was Herbert C. Chambers.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Completed/corrected names of men on board

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

"Veterans's Stories" - recollections of Lt Paul Blaida

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

41-9090: Gallery (2 items)