Delivered Cheyenne 17/3/44; Kearney 1/4/44; Dow Fd 14/4/44; Assigned 708BS/447BG [CQ-] Rattlesden 22/4/44; returned from Caen 6/6/44 with Phil Chase, Co-pilot: George Phillips, Navigator: Francis PrendercastWounded in Action, Bombardier: George Betker, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dave Portnoy, Radio Operator: Marion Cherry, Ball turret gunner: Lew Domond, Waist gunner: Elmer Price, Waist gunner: Sumner Stacey,Tail gunner: Maynard Smith (10 Returned to Duty); landed too fast and skidded off runway with full bomb load; Salvaged 6/6/44.



While returning from a mission over Caen on 6 June 1944 at 23:49PM, D-Day, B-17 (serial number 42-102591) nicknamed "Cactus Pete" called for landing instructions and was advised to land at Rattlesden. The aircraft landed too fast and skidded into B-17 (serial number 42-31104). Despite the fact it was still carrying its bomb load, the aircraft did not explode, though all 10 members of the crew were wounded in action.



The origin of the name "Cactus Pete" is not fully known, but it is assumed to be named by the Philip Chase crew, and possibly was a nickname for Lt. Chase, who was a transplant to Southern California.