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41-24557

B-17 Flying Fortress

  • LtR: T/Sgt William Ramsey (POW), S/Sgt Mike Cappelletti (KIA), S/Sgt George Hayes (KIA) Lt Bruce Sundlun (Escaped), Lt Zitnik(only on this 10th mission), Kneeling: Lt Reino Jylkka (POW)

    LtR: T/Sgt William Ramsey (POW), S/Sgt Mike Cappelletti (KIA), S/Sgt George Hayes (KIA) Lt Bruce Sundlun (Escaped), Lt Zitnik(only on this 10th mission), Kneeling: Lt Reino Jylkka (POW)

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  • The incredible story of the escape from Nazi-cccupied Europe by Jewish-American Pilot Bruce Sundlun and his subequent return to support the French Resistance. The entire video can be viewed at tubitv.com

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Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-T] Denver 12/8/42; Thurleigh 18/11/42; transferred 545BS/384BG [JD-O] Grafton Underwood 22/8/43; Missing in Action Leverkusen 1/12/43 with Bruce Sundlun (evaded capture), Bombardier: George Hayes, Ball turret gunner: Harry Cologne, Waist gunner: Mike Cappelletti, Waist gunner: Chester Snyder, Tail gunner: Frank Lekas (5 Killed in Action), Co-pilot: Andy Boles, Navigator: Reino Jylkka, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Ramsey, Radio operator: Charles Snyder (4 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Snellengem, six miles S of Bruges, Bel. Missing Air Crew Report 1334. DAMN YANKEE.

Service

Units

  • 384th Bomb Group

    384th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...

  • 545th Bomb Squadron

    545th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Andrew Boles

    Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
    Shot down 1 December 1943 in B-17 #4124557 'Damn Yankees. ' Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Mike Cappalletti

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 545th 384BG, 8AF USAAF. 13 x missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Solingen. Shot down 1-Dec-43 in B-17F 41-24557 'Damn Yankees'. Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: AM (OLC), PH.

  • Harry Cologne

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 545th 384BG, 8AF USAAF. 1 x missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Solingen. Shot down 1-Dec-43 in B-17F 41-24557 'Damn Yankees'. Last seen on floor of radio room, wounded and without a parachute. Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

  • George Hayes

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Bombardier, Enlisted, Nose Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
    Shot down 1 December 1943 in B-17 #4124557 'Damn Yankees. ' Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Reino Jylkka

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 384th Bomb Group
    Shot down 1 December 1943 in B-17 #4124557 'Damn Yankees. ' Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Frank Lekas

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
    Shot down 1 December 1943 in B-17 #4124557 'Damn Yankees. ' Killed in Action (KIA).

  • William Ramsey

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
    Shot down 1 December 1943 in B-17 41-24557 'Damn Yankees. ' Prisoner of War (POW).

  • Charles Snyder

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 384th Bomb Group
    Shot down 1 December 1943 in B-17 #4124557 'Damn Yankees. ' Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Chester Snyder

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
    Shot down 1 December 1943 in B-17 #4124557 'Damn Yankees. ' Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Bruce Sundlun

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 545th 384BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Solingen. Shot down 1-Dec-43 in B-17F 41-24557 'Damn Yankees'. Evaded (EVD). ...

Places

  • Grafton Underwood

    Military site : airfield
    Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...

  • Thurleigh

    Military site : airfield
    Built for RAF use in 1941-42, Thurleigh was initially used by RAF Bomber Command before being handed over to the Eighth Air Force. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the B-17s of the 306th Bomb Group began using the base. It was their...

Events

Event Location Date
Crashed Snellegem, Jabbeke 1 December 1943 – 1 December 1943
Nicknames
"Damn Yankee"
Production block number
F-25-BO
Manufacturer
Boeing
Markings and paint scheme/livery

Olive drab over gray.
May have had disruptive green blotching common of the era and Group.

The words, "DAMN YANKEE" in block type on an irregular background.

Two types of mission symbols above and below nickname.

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
16 July 2020 11:56:16 arnecl Changes to events
Sources

Inhabitant of village where plane crashed
Date Contributor Update
19 January 2020 14:22:23 phil marchese Changes to production block number and markings
Sources

AAM associated image.
Date Contributor Update
13 April 2018 10:24:56 Lucy May Changes to description
Sources

Corrected name of radio operator: https://www.fold3.com/image/28691399
Date Contributor Update
13 April 2018 06:01:45 alw Changes to nicknames, markings and events
Sources

U.S. Militaria Forum@ usmilitariaforum.com
My 68th Anniversary Tribute to B17-F Damn Yankee
Started by Johan Willaert , Dec 01 2011 01:27 AM
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:40:03 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1334 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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