B-17 Flying Fortress
Kentucky Winner (42-102481) was flown only once on 18 Jan 1945 by Lester Wise, pilot, on a mission from Great Ashfield to Kaiserslautern. He flew several different b-17s before and after that mission.
Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Kearney 4/5/44; Grenier 19/4/44; Assigned 550BS/385BG [SG-P] Gt Ashfield 20/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 18/3/45 with Bill Cocker, Bill Chaney, Harold Morthorst, Bob Crider, Ellis Murray, Vince Figini, Joe Ryan, Harry Grimet (8 Returned to Duty); Bill Martsch (Killed in Action); flak, crashed Grodzisk, Poland. Missing Air Crew Report 13141. KENTUCKY WINNER.
Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
Squadron
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
Crashed near Grodzisk on 18 Mar 45 in B-17 'Kentucky Winner' #42-102481, Returned to Duty (RTD).
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
William Howell Cocke, Jr. was born to West Point graduate of 1918 William Howell Cocke, Sr.
...
Military | Sergeant | Bombardier, Enlisted, Nose Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
RTD crashed near Grodzisk on 18 Mar 45 in B-17 'Kentucky Winner' #42102481
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 385th Bomb Group
RTD crashed near Grodzisk on 18 Mar 45 in B-17 'Kentucky Winner' #42102481
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
RTD crashed near Grodzisk on 18 Mar 45 in B-17 'Kentucky Winner' #42102481
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
KIA crashed near Grodzisk on 18 Mar 45 in B-17 'Kentucky Winner' #42102481
Military | Flight Officer | Navigator | 385th Bomb Group
RTD crashed near Grodzisk on 18 Mar 45 in B-17 'Kentucky Winner' #42102481
Military | Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
RTD crashed ner Grodzisk on 18 Mar 45 in B-17 'Kentucky Winner' #42102481
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
RTD crashed near Grodzisk on 18 Mar 45 in B-17 'Kentucky Winner' #42102481
Military | Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
18 January 1945
Military site : airfield
The airfield was built in 1942 by John Laing & Son Ltd. 108,000 tons of concrete was used in its construction, creating a Class 'A' airfield suitable for heavy bombers. The 385th Bomb Group took up residence in the summer of 1943, and remained at the...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Russia | 18 March 1945 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 March 2019 18:45:54 | Bolter 77 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Grodzisk is in Poland. In March 1945 Soviet troops stationed in this area. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 November 2018 20:24:58 | amorthorst | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Correct a name to be Harold Morthorst |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 February 2016 15:37:01 | ssharkey | Changes to nicknames, place associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
385 Bomb Group Website |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:09 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 13141 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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