42-29685
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 2/2/43; Salina 17/2/43; Rapid City 20/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG Alconbury 30/3/43, transferred 412BS [QW-R]; 3m.
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42-29706
B-17 Flying Fortress
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Ground crew of the 95th Bomb Group attend to an explosion caused whilst loading bombs into a B-17 Flying Fortress at Alconbury. Aircraft pictured are: B-17F (serial number 42-29808) and B-17F (serial number 42-29706) nicknamed "Passion Flower" (after the Disney character from 'Bambi')- both were written off as a result of the explosion of 42-29685 at top right of picture. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-25287 AG Planes 3 and 4 (later) in foreground were damaged beyond repair. The scene of the explosion, which ocurred as bombs were loaded in No 1 is in right background. 28 May 1943. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO'
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Ground crew of the 95th Bomb Group attend to an explosion caused whilst loading bombs into a B-17 Flying Fortress at Alconbury. Aircraft pictured are: B-17F (serial number 42-29808) and B-17F (serial number 42-29706) nicknamed "Passion Flower" (after the Disney character from 'Bambi')- both were written off as a result of the explosion. Official caption printed on image: 'GE-36-1-92. 27.5.43.' Printed caption on reverse: 'D-61564 AC - These Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" were considerably damaged when 500 pound general purpose bombs exploded while being loaded into a plane. 28 May 1943 England. US AIR FORCE PHOTO.' A map of Alconbury air base c. 1943 has also been drawn on the reverse, identifying the exact location of the explosion.
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Flying Fortress B-17F 42-29706 'Flower' 412nd BS, 95th BG, 8AF USAAF. L-R: Lt Francos Rue, Capt John Adams, Lt Lou Matter and Lt Robert Hook.
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Flying Fortress B-17F 42-29706 'Flower' 412nd BS, 95th BG, 8AF USAAF.
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'Aerial view of airbase** in England showing destruction caused by the explosion of 500 pound general purpose bombs while being loaded into a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress*". 28 May 1943, England'. Taken after the explosion of 42-29685* 334th BS, 95th BG [19 killed, 21 wounded], which damaged beyond repair 42-29706 "Passion Flower", 42-29833 and 42-29808. ** Alconbury.
Delivered Cheyenne 7/2/43; Rapid City 22/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Morrison 14/4/43; Dow Fd 21/4/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-W] Alconbury 25/4/43; 3m, Written off after another aircraft 42-29685 exploded nearby on base 27/5/43, Salvaged. PASSION FLOWER.
Service
Aircraft
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42-29833
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/2/43; Casper 13/3/43; Morrison 13/4/43; Presque Is 6/5/43; Assigned 92BG Alconbury 8/5/43; 412BS, 95BG Alconbury; 27-5-43 Damaged Beyond Repair DBR by debris from exploding 42-29685 bomb load, listed as salvaged n/battle damaged...
Units
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95th Bomb Group
Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August... -
412th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
People
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John Carlisle
Military | Private | Radio Operator; Mechanic | 95th Bomb Group
Killed in Service (KIS) 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B-17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. -
Robert Cozens
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot/Command Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
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Donald Crossley
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Tail Gunner | 95th Bomb Group
Assigned to 333BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Crossley was credited with 12 confirmed e/a kills. A record for 8th AF gunners. ETD Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (3OLC), GC, WWII Victory, EMEA, American Campaign. -
Thomas Cunningham
Military | Master Sergeant | Radio Operator; Mechanic | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
Killed in Service (KIS) 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B-17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. Cunningham and McCool were working at Horham with the... -
Wallace Henderson
Military | Corporal | Radio Operator; Mechanic | 95th Bomb Group
Killed In Service. 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B-17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. -
Clinton Lewis
Military | Sergeant | Mechanic | 95th Bomb Group
Killed in Service (KIS) 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B-17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. Combat Sup, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop ... -
Laurier Morissette
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
Shot down 13 June 1943 in B-17 #4229737 'Louise. ' Prisoner of War (POW). POW -
Louis Palmer
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator; Mechanic | 95th Bomb Group
Killed In Service (KIS). 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B-17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. -
John Storie
Military | Pilot | 95th Bomb Group
WIA. 19 May 1943. B-17F #42-29694 'Southern Belle' -
Glen Swarts
Military | Sergeant | Armorer | 95th Bomb Group
Killed In Service (KIS). 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B-17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured.
Missions
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VIII Bomber Command 56
14 May 1943
Today's operations will be the most extensive yet mounted by VIII Bomber Command. The operations call for a "maximum effort". Whereas in the past a single target or those close together have been chosen, today's effort is against widley separated... -
VIII Bomber Command 57
15 May 1943
The missions of VIII Bomber Command are becoming more sophisticated. The primary stratgic target for today is the U-Boat pens, marshalling yards and Luftwaffe airfield at Emden, Germany. The resistance of Luftwaffe fighters is a primary concern for the... -
VIII Bomber Command 60
21 May 1943
The German naval and port facilities at Wilhelmshaven and Emden, Germany are the two primary targets for this mission. Once again, there is a two-fold strategic objective: entice the Luftwaffe to commit its fighter forces; and further degrade the naval...
Places
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Alconbury
Military site : airfield
Alconbury had been constructed as a satellite airfield for RAF Upwood and Wyton and was used by RAF Squadrons: Nos. 15, 40 and 156. In preparation for the arrival of American heavy bombers, the base was developed in 1942 with the runways extended. When...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Delivered | Cheyenne, WY | 7 February 1943 |
| Assigned | RAF Alconbury | 25 April 1943 |
| Damaged beyond repair DBR | RAF Alconbury | 27 May 1943 |
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Written off after another aircraft 42-29685 exploded nearby on base 27/5/43. |
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| Salvaged | RAF Alconbury | 30 May 1943 |
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Salvaged. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 19 May 2022 10:33:21 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
AAM DB Entry. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 July 2020 19:13:09 | 466thHistorian | Changes to production block number and nicknames |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 July 2020 19:11:48 | 466thHistorian | Changes to events, person associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 January 2016 16:04:12 | Paul Bellamy | Changes to description, events and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Loss location corrected from Framlingham to Alconbury. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 December 2015 11:37:41 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
AAM DB Entry. |
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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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