42-30207 Big Red
Richard H. Bailey Crew
388th BG - 561st BS
Standing Left to Right: George Bartuska (B), Richard H. Bailey (P), William L. Tobin (CP), Laurence M. Bairstow (N)
Kneeling Left to Right: Ned Transou (R/O), John J. Thompson (FE), Donald E. Marble (WG), Ralph Higgins (TG), Edward L. Gwinnell (WG), Roy L. Graziani (BTG)
Roger Freeman Collection
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 12/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG [ -T] Knettishall 14/6/43; Missing in Action Bordeaux 27/3/44 with Julius Lederman, Co-pilot: Waite Law, Bombardier: John Luzell (3 Prisoner of War); Navigator: John Carroll, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Herman Hermanson (2 evaded capture); Radio Operator: Blair Harman, Ball turret gunner: Lou Mizera, Waist gunner: George Schwarzkopf, Waist gunner: Joe Kapec,Tail gunner: George Hewett (5 Killed in Action); flare set off fire in radio room, circled & crashed La Gombretiere, Aizenay, nine miles NW of La Roche-sur-Yon, 17 miles S of Nantes, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 3540. BIG RED.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793713
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-795297
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-733513
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19176865
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 27 March 1944
- Date: 26 March 1944
- Date: 23 March 1944
- Date: 18 March 1944
- Date: 16 March 1944
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Delivered |
29 April 1943 | ||
Assigned |
14 June 1943 | 388 BG 561 BS | |
Other First 388th BG Combat Mission |
17 July 1943 | Originally assigned to the R.H. Bailey Crew | |
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
27 March 1944 | Flares set off fire in radio room during mission 33 combat missions completed plus 7 aborts |
Revisions
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3540 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database