43-38689
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 4273 - A damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-A, serial number 43-38689) of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group in flight over Mannheim, Germany. Official...
Delivered Fairfield 4/9/44; Hunter 25/9/44; Grenier 3/10/44; Assigned 601BS/398BG Nuthampstead 11/10/44; transferred 427BS/303BG [GN-A] Molesworth 28/10/44; Missing in Action Germersheim 13/1/45 with pilot 2Lt Oliver T Eisenhart, copilot 2Lt Henry McCullough, Navigator 2Lt Maurice Herrick, Bombardier F/O Herring Joyce, Flight Eng S/Sgt Sam Hindman, Radio Sgt Bernie Kaufmann, Ball turret Sgt Bill Kimber, Waist gun Sgt Jack Thompson, Tail gun Sgt Therman Conaway (9 Killed in Action); direct flak hit in the tail, crashed Roxheim, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 11574.
Failed to Return (FTR) mission to bomb railroad bridge at Mannheim. Took a direct hit in the tail and plummeted earthwards. No crew escaped, probably held by the gravitational forces of the rapid descent. The lead plane of a higher squadron caught the plunge with its strike camera. Crashed Roxheim, Germany. 9 x KIA. MACR 11574.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38603844
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11081662 / O-2058926
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bomber pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16119532 / O-2069017
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34727889
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37607203 / T-131600
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 13 January 1945
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
690 Airman Dr, Travis AFB, CA 94535, USA | 4 September 1944 | Delivered USAAF. |
|
Delivered |
Hunter Army Airfield, 525 Leonard Neal Street #6010, Savannah, GA 31409, USA | 25 September 1944 | Ferried to Hunter AAF. 25-Sep-44. |
|
Delivered |
8050 S Willow St, Manchester, NH 03103, USA | 3 October 1944 | Ferried to Grenier AAF 3-Oct-44. |
|
Assigned |
Nuthampstead, Royston SG8, UK | 11 October 1944 | Assigned 601BS, 398BG, 8AF 11-Oct-44. |
|
Assigned |
Old Weston, Huntingdon PE28 0QB, UK | 28 October 1944 | Transferred 427BS, 303BG, 8AF 28-Oct-44. |
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
55595 Roxheim, Germany | 13 January 1945 | Failed to Return (FTR) mission to bomb railroad bridge at Mannheim. Took a direct hit in the tail and plummeted earthwards. No crew escaped, probably held by the gravitational forces of the rapid descent. The lead plane of a higher squadron caught the plunge with its strike camera. Crashed Roxheim, Germany. 9 x KIA. MACR 11574. |
|
Manufactured |
Seattle, WA, USA | Built at Boeing. |
