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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 42-29673 'Old Bill' having its nose art painted on by nose art was painted by Bruce Bairnsfather.
The battle damaged cockpit of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Old Bill" of the 305th Bomb Group, May 1943. Written on slide casing: '20 mm damage, 5/43 Old Bill.'
Capt. William Douglas Whitson after being decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross at Chelveston, England on 25 July 1943 for his actions on 25 May 1943 whilst piloting the B-17 # 42-29623 named "Old Bill". He successfully landed his crippled aircraft having had the nose of the plane shot off, bombardier killed, and he and his co-pilot wounded.
Nose Art painted by noted cartoonist Bruce Bairnsfather.
Close-up of nose art saved after plane was scrapped due to severe battle damage received 15 May 1943 when the plane's nose was shot off.
42-29673 "Old Bill" 422nd BS 305th BG, damaged on Wangerooge 15 may 43, navigator killed). L-R: Cpl Willis Todd, Cpl Zimmerman
Nose art from 305th Bomb Group, 365th Bomb Squadron B-17F "Old Bill," removed in the process of repairing severe battle damage.
B-17F 42-29673 'Old Bill' undergoing maintenance whilst finishing touches are added to the nose art by nose art was painted by Bruce Bairnsfather.
B-17F 42-29673 'Old Bill' after taking a 20mm round in the nose. nose art was painted by Bruce Bairnsfather. Sgt Willis Todd in the nose. Sgt Zimmerman on the steps.
B-17 42-29673 'Old Bill' combat report.
Delivered Denver 31/1/43; Gt Falls 8/2/43; Morrison 5/3/43; Assigned 365BS/305BG [XK-S] Chelveston 6/4/43; then 422BS [JJ-S]; severe battle damaged Wangerooge 15/5/43 with Capt Bill Whitson, Co-pilot: Harry Holt, Bombardier: Bob Barrall (wia), Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Albt Haymon (wia), Radio Operator: Fred Bewak (wia), Ball turret gunner: Edgar Nichols, Waist gunner: Homer Ramsey, Waist gunner: John Breen, Tail gunner: Ken Meyer, photo-George Friend (10 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Doug Venable (Killed in Action); crash landed base on return, Salvaged 16/5/43. OLD BILL.
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
Squadron
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. On 15-May-43 20 mm shells from Fw190 came through nose, shot away plexiglass of B-17 'Old Bill' B-17 42-29673 killing the navigator and wounding both pilots, Barrall flew the A/C home where the pilot having...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
15 May 1943 20 mm shells from FW190 came through window, shot away plexiglass nose. Plane was Old Bill B-17 42-29673
Awards: Silver Star.
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. 15-May-43 20 mm shells from FW190 came through window, shot away plexiglass nose of B-17 42-29673 'Old Bill'. Later had mid air collision with RAF Beaufighter on training mission in B17 42-5376 'Eager Eagle' 31-Aug...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Photographer | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. 15-May-43, 20 mm shells from FW190 came through window and shot away plexiglass nose of B-17 42-29673, 'Old Bill'. Shot down 14-Jul-43 in B-17 42-3049 'Windy City Challenger'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 64
...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
15 May 1944 20 mm shells from FW190 came through window, shot away plexiglass nose. Plane was Old Bill B-17 42-29673.
Awards: SS, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
15 May 1943 20 mm shells from FW190 came through window, shot away plexiglass nose. Plane was Old Bill B-17 42-29673
Military | Technical Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. 15-May-43 20 mm shells from FW190 came through window, shot away plexiglass nose. Plane was B-17 42-29673 'Old Bill'. Awarded Silver star for landing A/C after crew wounded by fighter attack. RTD
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
15 May 1943 20 mm shells from FW190 came through window, shot away plexiglass nose. Plane was Old Bill B-17 42-29673
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Hit and killed by flak that came into the cabin. 20 mm shells from FW190 came through window, shot away plexiglass nose of B-17F 42-29673 'Old Bill' Killed in Action (KIA) May 15, 1943
Awards: SS, AM, PH.
Military | Captain | Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Wounded along with Co-pilot when 20mm round from enemy fighter exploded in nose of B-17 42-29673 'Old Bill', 15-May-43. Bombardier flew back to base where Capt Whitson landed the damaged A/C. Later with 3 engines...
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...
Not yet known
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2022 11:32:55 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 February 2021 16:40:51 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 November 2020 21:53:00 | 42-29673 | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
I meet with the pilot Capt. William (Bill) Whitson at his home in Denton, Tx. back in March 2007. He told me the story of his new plane 42-29673 JJ-S and how it got it's name "Old Bill". Bill was friendly with the 305th BG resident artist, Englishman Capt. Bruce Bairnsfather. Bruce asked Bill if he could paint his WW1 character "Old Bill" on his new plane. Bill thought it at great idea as his first plane 41-24529 JJ-T had never had a name. After consultation with his crew, Bill gave Bruce permission to paint the nose art "Old Bill" on his plane. It is also probable that the ship never carried the code XK-S as Bill told me, he was the only pilot to fly 42-29673 JJ-S "Old Bill" in it's short life with the 305th BG Cheers, Graham Meiklejohn |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 September 2017 19:54:45 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings and unit associations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 July 2016 15:45:00 | millebr | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
AAM; Fold3.com |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:23 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log |
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