42-29863 Kentucky Babe aka Ain’t it Gruesome

media-24042.jpeg UPL 24042 Captain John Paul Carson Jr. , January 1944; A/C #42-29863 (RQ-Y) "Kentucky Babe"

Military and Family Records

Object Number - UPL 24042 - Captain John Paul Carson Jr. , January 1944; A/C #42-29863 (RQ-Y) "Kentucky Babe"

Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/43; Denver 1/3/43; Gore 12/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 509BS/351BG [RQ-Y] Polebrook 16/4/43; Missing in Action 43m Frankfurt 11/2/44 with Capt John Carson, Co-pilot: Merlyn Rutherford*, Radio Operator: John Landers*, Ball turret gunner: Dave Lynch, Waist gunner: Jim Riley, Tail gunner: Joe Richey, foto-Stan Sokolowski (7 Prisoner of War); Navigator: Henry Heldman, Bombardier: Bill Spinning, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Haywood (3 evaded capture); Waist gunner: Rich Howard (Killed in Action); flak hits then enemy aircraft KO’d #3 plus other damage, crashed a mile S of Inval-Boiron, 12 miles NW of Poix-de-Picardie, Fr. (Book by Ken Harbour/Pete Harris tells the story of how these two men escape). Missing Air Crew Report 2528. KENTUCKY BABE aka AIN’T IT GRUESOME.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-450004
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-767760
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728350 and 19060455 on enlisting
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Navigator
Hollywood actor Clark Gable in the waist gun position of a a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 91st Bomb Group. Passed for publication 6 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Clark Gable Serves In England: Clark Gable has slipped into this country as Capt. Gable and is serving with the U.S. Army Air Force somewhere in England, as a Gunnery Instructor. He hopes that his movements will not be accompanied by the publicity that he had a while ago, because he wants to get down to the job as others are doing. Keysto
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 351st Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 508th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19125741 at enlistment, then O-565390
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Cameraman, Gunner, Actor
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 390th Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19042225
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Belgium 11 February 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography" - “escape” was misspelled.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” for clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added two A/C nicknames mentioned in the A/C “Description”.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2528 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-29863: Gallery (1 items)