We are currently working on a site-wide upgrade which will be completed in September 2022
You will not be able to search, add or edit information in the American Air Museum archive while this takes place.
You can find out more about our plans here
B-17 Flying Fortress
Ground crew work on the engine of a 422nd Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (JJ-V, serial number 42-29641) nicknamed "Black Swan" at Chelveston airfield in late June 1943. Passed for publication 4 Jul 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '229641.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Flying Fortresses Base In Britain. This series of pictures shows scenes at a U.S. air base in Britain where Flying Fortresses are repaired, the scars torn in their sides - the price of victorious combats - patched up, engines overhauled and the planes made fit and ready for next bomb missions. U.S. Pool/F. Keystone (SG).' Censor no: 272766. On reverse: Keystone Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Ground crew of the 305th Bomb Group work on the engine of a B-17 Flying Fortress (JJ-V, serial number 42-29641) nicknamed "Black Swan" at Chelveston, June 1943. Passed for publication 4 Jul 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '229641.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Flying Fortresses Base In Britain. This series of pictures shows scenes at a U.S. air base in Britain where Flying Fortresses are repaired, the scars torn in their sides - the price of victorious combats - patched up, engines overhauled and the planes made fit and ready for next bomb missions. U.S. Pool/F. Keystone (SG).' Censor no: 272770. On reverse: Keystone Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Ground crew work on the engine of a 422nd Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (JJ-V, serial number 42-29641) nicknamed "Black Swan" at Chelveston airfield in late June 1943. Passed for publication 4 Jul 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '229641, JJ-V.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Flying Fortresses Base In Britain. This series of pictures shows scenes at a U.S. air base in Britain where Flying Fortresses are repaired, the scars torn in their sides - the price of victorious combats - patched up, engines overhauled and the planes made fit and ready for next bomb missions. U.S. Pool/F. Keystone (SG).' Censor no: 272767. On reverse: Keystone Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Delivered Cheyenne 26/1/43; Salina 9/2/43; Assigned 422BS/305BG [JJ-V] Chelveston 21/3/43; Missing in Action Nantes 4/7/43 with Frank Scott, Co-pilot: Bob Brazeal, Navigator: Bill Bailey, Bombardier: Leslie Stone, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Marvin Williams, Radio Operator: Ray Malaby, Ball turret gunner: John Kowalski, Waist gunner: Frank Hatzke, Waist gunner: Aubrey King,Tail gunner: Albert King (10 Killed in Action); flak set radio room on fire SE of Belle Isle, W of St Nazaire, crashed Bay of Biscay. Missing Air Crew Report 4483. BLACK SWAN.
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
Squadron
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Charles F Awrajcewicz served between June 1942 and the fatal training flight on 31 August 1943 - mid-air collision with Beaufighter Serial V8715 of RAF 75 Squadron. He had flown in over 25 missions, both daylight and night bombing ones. He originally...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #42-29641 'Black Swan'. Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #4229641 'Black Swan. ' Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #4229641 'Black Swan. ' Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #4229641 'Black Swan. ' Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #4229641 'Black Swan. ' Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #4229641 'Black Swan. ' Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #4229641 'Black Swan. ' Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #4229641 'Black Swan. ' Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #4229641 'Black Swan. ' Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military site : airfield
Chelveston was adapted and expanded in preparation for the arrival of American forces. Rather than heavy bombers, the first aircraft to fly from its runways were C-47 Skytrains that were flown by the 60th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942. The first...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | France | 4 July 1943 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 27 September 2014 18:40:23 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4483 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
||
