42-29863 Kentucky Babe aka Ain’t it Gruesome
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
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-684563
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36107762
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Photographer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18085157 / O-667209
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11100244 / O-2060423
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Radar Navigator/Bombardier "Mickey Operator"
Places
Missions
- Date: 4 July 1943
- Date: 28 June 1943
- Date: 26 June 1943
- Date: 25 June 1943
- Date: 22 June 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Belgium | 11 February 1944 |
Revisions
Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography" - “escape” was misspelled.
Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” for clarity.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2528 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database