Please click here for more information, there is also plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
B-17 Flying Fortress
42-102501 BK-H, THE CHALLENGER, 384th Bomb Group, 546th Bomb Squadron
B-17G 42-102501, 384th BG/546th BS
B-17 42-102501
B-17 42-102501
Delivered Cheyenne 9/3/44; Gr Island 11/4/44; Dowe Fd 28/4/44; Assigned 546BS/384BG [BK-H] Grafton Underwood 12/5/44; Missing in Action Berlin 3/2/45 with Robert Clax Long, Frederick Arnold Maki, Jack Coleman Cook (3 Killed in Action); Ralph John Vrana, Edward Field, Marvin Irving Rudolph, Howard Jasper Oglesby, Thomas Arnold Davis, Donald Ramsey Duncan (6RTD; flak, ditched in the North Sea; THE CHALLENGER.
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Squadron
Military | Technical Sergeant | MOS 757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF | 384th Bomb Group
Military | Sergeant | Ball turret gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 384th Bomb Group on 16 May 1944, completed 16 Missions with 384th Bomb Group before transferring to 305th Bomb Group on 26 June 1944.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 384th Bomb Group on 16 May 1944, completed 16 Missions with 384th Bomb Group before transferring to 305th Bomb Group on 26 June 1944.
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Crashed into North Sea in Plane 'The Challenger #42-102501. He used his legs to act as a propeller to get the raft with most of crew moved over to the one with the pilot in it. However before the British rescued them he died. Through his efforts he...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
RTD - ditched into North Sea on 3 FEb 45 in B-17 'The Challenger' 42-102501
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 384th Bomb Group on 16 May 1944, completed 16 Missions with 384th Bomb Group before transferring to 305th Bomb Group on 26 June 1944.
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
RTD Ditched into North Sea on 3 Feb 45 in B-17 'The Challenger ' 42-102501
Military | Sergeant | Flexible Gunner, Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to the 384th BG 547th BS on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #39 dated 27 February 1944, Jack N. McKinney Crew. 33 combat missions.
Wounded on 8th AF mission #361, 22 May 1944.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 384th Bomb Group on 16 May 1944, completed 10 Missions with 384th Bomb Group before transferring to 305th Bomb Group on 26 June 1944.
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 384th Bomb Group
Edward Field served as a navigator with the 384th Bomb Group, flying missions out of Grafton Underwood. On 3 February 1945, he was flying in B-17 'The Challenger' #42-102501 when the pilots were forced to ditch it in the North Sea. Field was one of six...
Military site : airfield
Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) | North Sea | 3 February 1945 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 22 October 2018 11:15:40 | DylanHearn | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
384thBombGroup.com |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 February 2015 20:30:54 | bombercommand | Changes to nicknames, markings, description, unit associations, person associations, place associations, mission associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
384thbombgroup.com |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:10 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15315 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
||
