42-29761 Martha II, Lucky Lady

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell, 1 September 1943. Not To Be Published 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men crowd around a Flying Fortre media-413515.jpg FRE 4831 Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell, 1 September 1943. Not To Be Published 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men crowd around a Flying Fortress which has had many raids to its credit, while a member of its air crew explains the machine to them. ABS/F.Keystone. 1,2,3,4,4a.' Censor no: 281607. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, Ministry of Information, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4831 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell,...

Delivered Denver 15/2/43; Walker 27/2/43; Salina 10/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 338BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 17/4/43 RUTH L II (re-named LUCKY LADY); transferred 533BS/381BG [VP-W] Ridgewell 14/7/43; Missing in Action 28m Brunswick 30/1/44 with Henry Steele, Co-pilot: Jim Settle, Navigator: Bob Anderson, Bombardier: Leopold Flores, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Perry Beach,Tail gunner: Paul Welch (6 Prisoners of War); Radio Operator: Wilbert Eason, Ball turret gunner: Harry Lee, Left Waist gunner: Harry Holtz, Right Waist gunner: Pete Hlynsky (4 Killed in Action); flak & enemy aircraft, crash landed between Bakel & Deurne, Hol. MACR 2244. MARTHA II.



Fitted with twin .50 nose gun configuration, which prevented the bombardier from using a bomb sight, resulting in this aircraft being used as a 'wing' aircraft to support the formation leader.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-809494
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32250471
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 3431627
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-688521
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

18500 E 6th Ave, Aurora, CO 80011, USA 15 February 1943 Delivered Denver AAF 15-Feb-43.

Assigned

Grafton Underwood, Kettering NN14, UK 17 April 1943 Assigned 338BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF.

Assigned

Ridgewell, Halstead CO9, UK 14 July 1943 Transferred 533BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

5761 Bakel, Netherlands 30 January 1944 Missing in Action 28m Brunswick 30/1/44 flak & enemy aircraft, crash landed between Bakel & Deurne, Hol. 6 x POW, 4 x KIA MACR 2244.

Manufactured

Seattle, WA, USA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorkstrykerAK
Changes
Sources

Snetterton Falcons II: The 96th Bomb Group in World War II by Robert E Doherty & Geoffrey D Ward. Second Edition with Errata & Supplemental Information. Taylor Publishing Company. 1996. pages 38, 293, 301

Date
ContributorkstrykerAK
Changes
Sources

Snetterton Falcons II: The 96th Bomb Group in World War II by Robert E Doherty & Geoffrey D Ward. Second Edition with Errata and Supplemental Information. Taylor Publishing. 1996. pages 29, 293

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary, p148-149

Date
ContributorRayWells
Changes
Sources

Kris Azevedo

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2244 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-29761: Gallery (18 items)