42-102479 Mississippi Lady

Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 708BS/447BG [CQ- ] Rattlesden 8/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 29/4/44 with Edgar Farrell, Co-pilot: John Benedict, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Peters, Radio Operator: Norman Bussel, Waist gunner: Merle Rumbaugh, Waist gunner: Wade Fulton (6 Prisoner of War); Navigator: Sherwood Landis, Bombardier: Wynne Longeteig, Ball turret gunner: Joe Guida, Tail gunner: Vasilios Mpouries (4 Killed in Action); flak hits followed by enemy aircraft, crashed Eickendorf, 15 miles SW of Gardelegen, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 4255.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-1036845
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34720238
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-813683
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33244674
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 29 April 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.

Date
ContributorJeff Uyak
Changes
Sources

Norman Bussel's autobiographical account of his WWII experiences covers in depth his training and battle experiences, in particular being shot down and being held prisoner through the remainder of the war in his book "My Private War". I was honoured to meet him and several other 8AF/447BG veterans at a reunion and ask him to sign my copy of his book. In the book, he mentions "Mississippi Lady" many times.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4255 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database