42-107006 Old Bird
Delivered Cheyenne 24/1/44; MacDill 18/2/44; Morrison 6/3/44; Assigned 815BS/483BG Sterparone 16/3/44; transferred 96BS/2BG Amendola 31/3/44; Missing in Action 73m Blechhammer 17/10/44 with Don Peart, Co-pilot: John Mumma, Navigator: Elliott Kaplan, Bombardier: Tom Jones, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Orie Lee, Radio Operator: Jim Growneyarm shot off while attempting to go over the wire, Ball turret gunner: Marion Green, Waist gunner: Bill McWalters,Tail gunner: Andy Fereico (9 Prisoner of War); mid air coll with 44-6379, #1 engine out, crashed Malacky; all nine chutes seen; Missing Air Crew Report 9208. OLD BIRD.
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: Twelfth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Seen through a 433rd Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress' strike camera, a 816th Bomb Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5786) nicknamed "Whizzer II" goes down over Nis in Yugoslavia on the 15th of April 1944 in a gout of flame after taking a direct flak hit. There were no survivors. Official caption on image: "(483BG:4M3:2VI) (4:15:1208) (24:21300) ([south-west arrow] 140 [degrees]) (Nis M/Y Yugo) (Ship 111 816 Sq)." Handwritten caption on reverse: '15/4/44. 483BG, 15AF. Nis, Yugoslavia. 42-5786](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-457805.jpg.webp?itok=YT0rrjph)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Squadron 2nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-816328
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Assigned |
Sterparone Airfield, Italy | 16 March 1944 | 483BG 815BS |
|
Assigned |
Amendola Airfield, Italy | 31 March 1944 | 2BG 96BS |
|
Other Shot Down/Mid-Air Collision |
Malacky, Slovakia | 17 October 1944 | Don Peart Crew |
|
Delivered |
Cheyenne, WY |
Revisions
B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-107006-old-bird/
B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-107006-old-bird/