41-9090 The SOONER
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).
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![Sergeant Fredrick Wilson, a tail gunner of the 97th Bomb Group, in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: Passed for publication 25 Jul 1942' [crossed out stamp], 'Not to be published 25 Jul 1942.' [stamp], 'Reveiwed and passed for publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp],'AIR(BOEING)' [written annotation], 'Associated Press.' [stamp] and '212087.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES WAIT FOR ZERO HOUR Associated Press photo shows: Hardly visible as he](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379312.jpg.webp?itok=77zH9kVk)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
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Revisions
My grandfather’s name was misspelled. The entry read, “Hubert C. Chambers;” his name was Herbert C. Chambers.