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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24541 'Spook' Lawrence G Dunnica crew 358th BS, 303rd BG, 8th AF USAAF. (Back L-R) 1st Lt Lawrence G Dunnica (Pilot), 2nd Lt Orson E Pacey (CoPilot), 1st Lt Leonard E Thornton (Nav), 2nd Lt James H Montgomery (Bomb (Front L-R) T/Sgt Harry W Tucker (Eng), S/Sgt Philip T Cascio (Ball), T/Sgt Bertis W Holland (Radio), S/Sgt Robert L Dew (R Waist), S/Sgt Claude F Taylor (Tail).
B-17F 41-24541 "Spook" was assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Kellogg Fd 14-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Sep-42;The aircraft participated in 12 Operations - 4 Aborted (See Biography events)
22-Nov-42 Mission #1 - U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France (see Biography)
23-Nov-42 Mission #2 - U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France (see Biography)
6-Dec-42 Mission #3 - Carriage and Wagon Works at Lille, France (see Biography)
12-Dec-42 Mission #4 - Railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France - Aborted (see Biogrqaphy)
20-Dec-42 Mission #5 - German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France (see Biography)
30-Dec-42 Mission #6 - U-Boat pens at Lorient, France - Aborted (see Biography)
3-Jan-43 Mission #7 - Topedo storage areas, St. Nazaire, France - Aborted (see Biography)
13-Jan-43 Mission #8 - Fives Company Locomotive Works, Lillie, France (see Biography)
23-Jan-43 Mission #9 - Port area at Lorient, France & U-Boat pens at Brest, France (see Biography)
27-Jan-43 Mission #10 - Naval Base at Wilhelmshaven, Germany (see Biography)
14-Feb-43 Mission #11 - Railroad marshalling yards, Hamm, Germany - Aborted (see Biography)
16-Feb-43 Mission #12 - LAST OPERATATION - Missing in Action on a mission to bomb the port area at St Nazaire, France. On the return leg of the mission the aircraft went to the aid of another B-17 flying about 15,000 feet below that was being attacked by ME-109 fighters. The aircraft was severely damaged by the fighters but the pilot believed he could fly the stricken aircraft back to Molesworth. The aircraft finally had to ditch into the English Channel approximately 20 miles from the English coast. 6KIA 4POW MACR 15476.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Squadron
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
SGT Philip T. Cascio was assigned as Ball Turret Gunner with the Lawrence G. Dunnica crew on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on 3-Sep-42 at Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan. He arrived at Molesworth, UK with the aircraft on 25-Oct-42. He...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
SGT Robert L. Dew was assigned as Right Waist Gunner with 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica's crew on B-17F 41-24541 "Spool", 303BG/358BS on 3-Sep-42 at Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan. He arrived with the aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 24-Oct-42.
...
Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
1LT Lawrence G. Dunninca was assigned to 303BG/358BS with B-17F 41-24541 [VK:B] "Spook" at Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan on 3-Sep-42. He arrived with his crew (except LWG SGT Wayne P. Harker) at Molesworth on 24-Oct-42. The aircraft also carried...
Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
SGT Wayne P. Harker was assigned as the Left Waist Gunner with 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica's crew on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS sometime after it arrived at Molesworth on 24-Oct-42. Flew 11 Operations - 4 Aborted, one of the operations was as...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 303rd Bomb Group
SGT Bertis W. Holland was assigned as Radio Operator with 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica's crew on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook" on 3-Sep-42 at Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan. He arrived with the aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 24-Oct-42. He participated in 11...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
2LT Orson E. Pacey was assigned as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 [VK-B] "Spook", 303BG/358BS with the Lawrence G. Dunnica crew on 3-Sep-42 at Kellog Field, Battle Creek Michigan. He arrived at Molesworth, UK with the aircraft on 24-Oct-42. He...
Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
1LT Robert O. Scheible was assigned as Bombardier with 1LT James M. McDonald's crew with B-17F 41-5360 "Old Faithful", 303BG/358BS on 8-Jan-43. He participated in 7 Operations - 3 Aborts on several different aircraft. (See Biography events).
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
SSGT Claude F. Taylor was assigned as the Tail Gunner with 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica's crew on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS. He arrived abord the aircraft at Molesworth on 24-Oct-42. He participated in 12 Operations - 5 Aborted. He flw one of...
Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
2LT Leonard E. Thornton was assigned as Navigator with the Lawrence G. Dunnica crew on B-17F 41-24541 [VK-B] "Spook" 303BG/358BS at Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan on 3-Sep-42. He arrived with the aircraft on 24-Oct-42 at Molesworth, UK. He...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
TSGT Harry W. Tucker was assigned as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on 1Lt Lawrence G. Dunnica's crew on B-17F 42-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS at Kellog Field. Battle Creek, Michigan on 3-Sep-42. He arrived at Molesworth, UK with the aircraft on 24-Oct-43....
22 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from...
23 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) for this mission. A combined force of 50 B-17s despatched from 91BG (10), 303BG (12), 305BG (20) and 306BG (8) to attack this target. 91BG is not able to put any of their group on the target,...
6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
...
12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
20 December 1942
The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.
...
30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
3 January 1943
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...
13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
27 January 1943
First successful attack by 8th Air Force into Germany. The 306th Bomb Group gets the distinction of being the first American Bomb Group to drop bombs on Germany. O Original target was Vegesack but clouded over. Col. Frank Armstrong lead the group. Two...
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mission #1 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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CREW P 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD); CP 2LT Orson E. Pacey (RTD) |
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| Mission #2 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 23 November 1942 |
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CREW CMP MAJ Clemens K. Wurzbach (RTD); CP 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD) |
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| Mission #3 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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CREW P 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD); CP 2LT Orson E. Pacey (RTD) |
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| Mission #4 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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CREW P 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD); CP 2LT Orson E. Pacey (RTD) |
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| Mission #5 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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CREW P 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD); CP 2LT Orson E. Pacey (RTD) |
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| Mission #6 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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CREW P 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD); CP 2LT Orson E. Pacey (RTD) |
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| Mission #7 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 |
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CREW CMP MAJ Clemens K. Wurzbach (RTD); CP 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD) |
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| Mission #8 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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CREW P 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD); CP 2LT Orson E. Pacey (RTD) |
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| Mission #9 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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CMP MAJ Clemens K. Wurzbach (RTD); CP 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD) |
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| Mission #10 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 |
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CREW P 1LT George J. Oxrider (RTD); CP 2LT Donald W. Hurlburt (RTD) |
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| Mission #11 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 |
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CREW P 1LT Lawrence G. Dunnica (RTD); CP 2LT Orson E. Pacey (RTD) |
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| Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) | English Channel | 16 February 1943 |
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Shot down by German fighters on the return leg from St. Nazaire, France and crashed into the English Channel about 20 miles from the English coast. An account of this event was made by the Ball Turret Gunner, SSgt Philip T. Cascio and may be viewed at: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf |
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| Mission #12 B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS FTR | Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 |
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CREW P CPT Lawrence G. Dunnica (KIA); CP 2LT Orson E. Pacey (POW) |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 16 August 2015 19:06:15 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description and events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #11 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 14-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf. Re-arranged and edited loss details in Description. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:57:01 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #10 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 27-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:48:42 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #9 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:44:37 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #8 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 13-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:41:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #7 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 3-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:35:46 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #6 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 30-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:29:42 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #5 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 6-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:25:39 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #4 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 6-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:22:11 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #3 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 6-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:16:48 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-2015. Added Mission #2 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 18:10:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-2015. Added Mission #1 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 22-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 August 2015 17:56:49 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description, events and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-2015. Added Operations participation to and Mission summary Description per 303BG website Mission Reports; Added Mission #12 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 16-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 30 January 2015 18:06:44 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to nicknames, markings, description, events, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 30-Jan-2015. Added nickname and markings per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; added FTR event description per narrative of SSgt Phillip T. Cascio in 303rd BG Mission Report of 16-Feb-43 and MACR 15476, http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf; Made connections to Place and Mission wihtin existing website data; Edited Description per Casico, added Aircraft and nickname, converted dates to military-style signification, added crew position, rank, full proper name and disposition per MACR 15476; formatted crew display. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:03 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15476 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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