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41-24559

B-17 Flying Fortress

  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24559) nicknamed

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24559) nicknamed "Old Soljer" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed as censored 25 Jan 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17 "Old Soljer". 25 Jan 1943.' Printed caption attached: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Side view of Fortress. This one's been named "Old Soljer" by her crew, who have painted the name on the side of the fuselage, as shown here. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Ministry of Information, Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

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  • "Lead crew on bombing mission to Rotterdam, Holland in front of the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Ooold Soljer'. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 4 March 1943." Rear L-R: 1Lt Reinaldo J Saiz, 1Lt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Lewis E Lyle, Lt Col George L. Robinson, 1Lt Otis Allen Hoyt. Front L-R: Sgt Tom McGiffin, T/Sgt Gene K. Smith, T/Sgt Woodrow W Smith, T/Sgt Clayton S. Balcombe, T/Sgt Martin A. Semonick, S/Sgt Edward A. Bradford.

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  • "Crew of the 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Ooold Soljer". England, 28 March 1943." Rear L-R: Lt George V Stallings, 1Lt Keith O Bartlett, Lewis E Lyle, Lt Milton S Fonorow, 1Lt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Percy C Young. Front L-R: S/Sgt Clayton S Balcombe, T/Sgt Gene K Smith, T/Sgt Frederick A Hartung, S/Sgt Tom McGiffin, S/Sgt Edward A Bradford, S/Sgt Robert H Sangster, T/Sgt Woodrow W Smith.

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B-17F 41-24559 'Ooold Soljer' was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-C] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42.

Aircraft participated in 19 Operations (4 were aborted) See Biography events for crew information.

17-Nov-42 MISSION # 1 - U-Boat Pens at St. Nazaire, France
18-Nov-42 MISSION # 2 - U-Boat Pens at St. Nazaire, France
6-Dec-43 MISSION # 3 - Carriage & Wagon Works, Lille, France
13-Jan-43 MISSION # 4 - Fives Company Locomotive Works, Lille, France
23-Jan-43 MISSION # 5 - U-Boat Pens at Lorient, France
27-Jan-43 MISSION # 6 - Naval Base and U-Boat pens, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
2-Feb-43 MISSION # 7 - Railroad Marshalling Yards, Hamm, Germany - Aborted
4-Feb-43 MISSION # 8 - Industrial areas of Osnabruck - Aborted
14-Feb-43 Mission # 9 - Railroad marshalling yards, Hamm, Germany - Recalled
16-Feb-43 Mission #10 - U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France - Aborted. The ball turret gunner's heated suit failed and the interphone equipment malfunctioned and aircraft forced to RTB.
26-Feb-43 Mission #11 - Naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Homer Bigart, War Correspondent of the New York Herald Tribune flew as an observer. Walter Cronkite, Jounalist flew as an observer on B-17F 41-24619 "S for Sugar", 303BG/427BS on this mission also.
27-Feb-43 MISSION # 12 U-Boat pens at Brest, France
4-Mar-43 MISSION # 13 Railroad Marshalling Yards, Rotterdam, Holland
6-Mar-43 MISSION # 14 Port area and U-Boat pens, Lorient, France.
12-Mar-43 MISSION # 15 Railroad Marshalling Yards, Rouen, France.
13-Mar-43 MISSION # 16 Railroad Marshalling Yards, Amiens, France.
22-Mar-43 MISSION # 17 - Port Area, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
26-Mar-43 MISSION # 18 - Railroad Marshalling Yards, Rouen, France.
31-Mar-43 MISSION # 19 FINAL OPERATION - Shipyards, Rotterdam, Holland.
The aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with B-17F 42-29573 "Two Beauts" 303BG/358BS over Wellingborough, UK in 10/10ths cloud cover while on a mission to bomb the port area of Rotterdam, Holland. The right wing from the #4 engine outward was sheared off and the aircraft crashed at Mears Ashby, Northamptonshire killing 8 of the crew. 2 bailed out successfully. 8KOM (Killed on Mission) 2RTD No MACR issued.

Service

Units

  • 303rd Bomb Group

    303rd Bomb Group

    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...

  • 360th Bomb Squadron

    360th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Samuel Anderson

    Military | Captain | Lead Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
    17-Feb-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24579 [PU-F] at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth UK. He was despatched on 26 Operations - 25 credited. Served as a Lead Navigator on 23 of those missions. Completed a 25-Mission...

  • Clayton Balcombe

    Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator | 303rd Bomb Group
    06-Mar-42 Assigned as Radio Operator on B-17F 41-24559 [PU-C] "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Ooold Soljer" ...

  • Frank Bartlett

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    12-Feb-42 Assigned to 303BG as an Aerial Gunner at Arrived at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 12-Jun-42 Trained at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo New Mexico. 7-Aug-42 Finished Advanced training at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. 24-Aug-42 transferred with Ground...

  • Keith Bartlett

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
    12-Mar-42 Assigned to 303BG/360BS in B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soldier" as 2LT and Co-Pilot. Gowen Field (Boise), Idaho. ...

  • Homer Bigart

    Civilian | War Correspondent | 303rd Bomb Group
    Journalist for the New York Herald Tribune, who in 1942 was invited to become a war correspondent, one of eight journalists known as The Writing 69th, sent to the UK to fly with the US Army Air Force on bombing missions over Europe. Bigart was...

  • Edward Bradford

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    6-Mar-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24559 [PU-C], "Ooold Soljer:, 303BG 360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Ooold Soljer." ...

  • Richard Browning

    Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
    28-Feb-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24565 [BN-P] "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids" ...

  • Robert Brud

    Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    4-Feb-43 First mission as susbtitute Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. ...

  • Richard Callaway

    Military | Major | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
    Available 303BG indicate that MAJ Callaway was a Senior Pilot and was assigned to an aircraft and with crew on 26-Jul-42 at Alamogordo Field, New Mexico. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK, as a passenger aboard B-17F 41-24563 "Garbage", 303BG/360BS....

  • Herman Currie

    Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
    18-Mar-43 First mission despatched on mission to Vegesack, Germany, a strongly fortified shipbuilding region as Bombardier of B-17F 42-5723, 303BG/360BS. The aircraft, piloted by 1LT Loyd D. Griffin, returned from mission with an excellent wheels up...

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Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 20

    17 November 1942
    The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The...

  • VIII Bomber Command 21

    18 November 1942
    The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...

  • VIII Bomber Command 24

    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. ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 29

    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 ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 31

    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...

  • VIII Bomber Command 32

    2 February 1943
    All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...

  • VIII Bomber Command 34

    14 February 1943
    The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are once again slated at the primary target for this mission. A force of 74 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (17); 305BG (17); 306BG (20), but weather once again forces the mission to be recalled before...

  • VIII Bomber Command 37

    26 February 1943
    After 10 days of weather related delays of the bomber offensive, a mission is organised with the port facilities of Emden, Germany as the primary target. However, Emden is obscured by cloud cover and all formations divert to attack the port facilities...

  • VIII Bomber Command 39

    4 March 1943
    After several weather-caused aborted attempts in attacking the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, the 8th Air Force is finally successful in attacking this target. A total of 71 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (18); 305BG (12) amd 306BG (21)....

  • VIII Bomber Command 40

    6 March 1943
    German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a...

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Places

  • Molesworth

    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...

Events

Event Location Date
MISSION #1, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Command P MAJ Charles E. Marion (RTB); CP CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB)
N 1LT John H. Embach (RTB); B 1LT Michael Libonati (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO SGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SGT Robert H. Sangster (RTB); LWG TSGT Frederick A. Hartung (RTB)
RWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SSGT Edward W. Durant
OBS 1LT Keith O. Bartlett
MISSION #2, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB); CP MAJ Richard D. Callaway (RTB)
N 1LT John H. Embach (RTB); B 1LT Michael L. Linonati (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO Clayton S. Balcolme (RTD)
BTG SGT Robert A. Sangster (RTD); LWG TSGT Frederick A. Hartung (RTB)
RWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SSGT Edward W. Durtant (RTB)
MISSION #3, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Lille, France 6 December 1942

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P COL James H. Wallace (RTB); CP CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB)
Group N 1LT Samuel H. Anderson (RTB); N CPT Paul G. Moore (RTB)
B 2LT Albert W. Dieffenbach (RTB); E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB)
RO SGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB); BTG SGT Robert A. Sangster (RTB)
LWG TSGT Frederick A. Hartung (RTB); RWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB)
TG SGT Tom McGiffin (RTB)
MISSION #4, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Lille, France 13 January 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis W. Lyle (RTB); CP 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (RTB)
N 1LT John H. Embach (RTB);
B 1LT Ewell R. McCright (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO SGT Clayton S. Balcolmbe (RTB)
BTG SGT Robert A. Sangster (RTB); LWG SGT Tom McGiffin (RTB)
RWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (RTB)
MISSION #5, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Lorient, France 23 January 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB); CP 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (RTB)
N CPT Paul G. Moore (RTB); B 1LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO SGT Clayton S. Balcolme (RTB)
BTG SGT Robert A. Sangster (RTD); LWG SGT Tom McGiffin (RTD)
RWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (RTB)
PHO SGT James L. Stringer (RTB)
MISSION #6, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Wilhelmshaven, Germany 27 January 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB); CP LTC Charles E. Marion (RTB)
Group N 1LT Samuel H. Anderson (RTB); B 1LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SSGT Robert A. Sangster (RTB); LWG TSGT Joesph M. Herbert (RTB)
RWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (RTB)
MISSION #7, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Recalled Hamm, Germany 2 February 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB); CP 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (RTB)
N CPT Paul G. Moore (RTB); B 1LT Rienaldo J. Saiz (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SSGT Robert A. Sangster (RTB); LWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB)
RWG SGT Tom McGiffin (RTB); TG SGT Frank W. Bartlett (RTB)
MISSION #8, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Osnabrück, Germany 4 February 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Command P LTC Charles E. Marion (RTB); CP CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB)
N CPT Paul G. Moore (RTB); B 1LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SSGT Robert A. Sangster (RTB); LWG SGT Robert P. Brud (RTB)
RWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SGT Tom McGiffin (RTB)
OBS 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (RTB)
MISSION #9, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Recalled Hamm, Germany 14 February 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB); CP 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (RTB)
N CPT Paul G. Moore (RTB); B 1LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SSGT Louis W. Rheaume (RTB); LWG SGT Tom McGiffin (RTB)
RWG SSGT Samuel L. Edwards (RTB); TG TSGT William B. Stamper (RTB)
OBS 1LT Thomas S. Vaughn (RTB)
MISSION #10, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Aborted Saint-Nazaire, France 16 February 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Command P LTC George L. Robinson (RTB); CP CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB)
N CPT Paul G. Moore (RTB); B 1LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (RTB); LWG SSGT Samuel L. Edwards (RTB)
RWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SGT Tom McGiffin (RTB)
MISSION #11, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Wilhelmshaven, Germany 26 February 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB); CP CPT Jacob B. Fredericks (RTB)
N 1LT Otis A. Hoyt (RTB); B 1LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTB);
E/TTG TSGT Michael S. Hlastala (RTB); RO TSGT Richard J. Smith (RTB)
BTG SSGT Howard H. Nardine (RTB); LWG SSGT Henry G. Schneiderman (RTB)
RWG SGT Harvie L. Collins (RTB); TG SSGT Glibert A Murray, Jr. (RTB)
OBS CIV Homer Bigart (RTB)
MISSION #12, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Brest, France 27 February 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis W. Lyle (RTB); CP 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (RTB)
N CPT Paul G. Moore (RTB); B 1LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO SSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SSGT Martin A. Semonick (RTB); LWG SGT Tom Griffin (RTB)
RWG SGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (RTB)
MISSION #13, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Osnabrück, Germany 4 March 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Command P LTC George L. Robinson (RTB); CP CPT Lewis W. Lyle (RTB)
N 1LT Otis A. Hoyt (RTB); B 1LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SSGT Martin A. Semonick (RTB); LWG SGT Tom Giffin (RTB)
RWG SSGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (RTB)
OBS 1LT Samuel H. Anderson (RTB)
MISSION #14, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Lorient, France 6 March 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB); CP 1LT Kenneth W. Davey (RTB)
N CPT Paul G. Moore (RTB); Command N 1LT Samuel H. Anderson (RTB)
B 1LT Milton S. Fonorow (RTB); E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB)
RO TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB); BTG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (RTB)
LWG SSGT Claude A. Hamilton (RTB); RWG SSGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB)
TG SGT Tom McGriffin (RTB)
MISSION #15, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Rouen, France 12 March 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB); CP 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (RTB)
N 1LT Jessie H. Elliott (RTB); B 2LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SSGT Robert H. Sangster (RTB); LWG SSGT Martin A. Semonick (RTB)
RWG SSGT (RTB) Edward A. Bradford (RTB) TG SSGT Tom McGiffin (RTD)
MISSION #16, 41-24559 303BG/360BS Amiens, France 13 March 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Command P LTC Charles E. Marion (RTB): CP CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB)
N CPT Paul G. Moore (RTB); B 1LT Reinaldo J. Saiz (RTD)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB); RO TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTB)
BTG SSGT Robert H. Sangster (RTB); LWG SSGT Martin A. Semonick (RTD)
RWG SSGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB); TG SGT Tom McGiffin
OBS 1LT Keith O, Bartlett (RTB)
MISSION #17 41-24559 303BG/360BS Wilhelmshaven, Germany 22 March 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (RTB); CP 2LT Kent M. Fitzsimmons (RTB)
Command N 1LT Samuel H. Anderson (RTB); N 1LT Walter T. Stevens (RTB)
B 1LT Herman C. Currie (RTB); E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTB)
RO TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTD); BTG SSGT Robert H. Sangster (RTB)
LWG SSGT Edward A, Bradford (RTD); RWG SGT Tom McGriffin (RTB)
TG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (RTB)
MISSION #18 41-24559 303BG/360BS Rouen, France 28 March 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P CPT Lewis E. Lyle (RTB): CP 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (RTB)
Command N 1LT Samuel H. Anderson (RTB); B 1LT Milton S. Fonorow (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (RTD); RO TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (RTD)
BTG SSGT Robert H. Sangster (RTB); LWG SSGT Edward A. Bradford (RTB)
RWG SGT Tom McGiffin (RTB); TG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (RTB)
OBS CPT Percy C. Young (RTB); OBS 1LT George V. Stallings, Jr. (RTB)
MISSION #19 41-24559 303BG/360BS Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, UK 31 March 1943

CREW B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

P 1LT Keith O. Bartlett (KOM); CP: 1LT Kent M. Fitzsimmons (KOM)
N 1LT Richard C. Browning (KOM); B/TOG SSGT Claude A. Hamilton (KOM)
E/TTG TSGT Gene K. Smith (KIA); RO TSGT Clayton S. Balcombe (UNJ/RTD)
BTG SSGT Robert H. Sangster, Jr. (KOM); LWG SSGT Edward A. Bradford (KOM)
RWG SSGT Woodrow W. Smith (KOM); TG SSGT Tom McGriffin (BO/RTD)

Sutained a mid-air collision with B-17F 42-29573 "Two Beauts" 303BG/358BS over Wellingborough, UK during assembly for mission to Rotterdam, Holland.
Nicknames
Ooold Soljer
Production block number
B-17F-25-BO
Manufacturer
Boeing
Markings and paint scheme/livery

Triangle = 1st Bomb Division
C = 303rd Bomb Group
Radio Call Sign PU: (360BS) C = Aircraft ID

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
29 October 2019 20:55:09 jmoore43 Changes to description
Sources

Corrected a misspelled word in the "Description".
Date Contributor Update
03 March 2016 21:00:09 Lee8thbuff Changes to description and events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Edited and Mission events for accuracy and format per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Date Contributor Update
03 August 2015 20:21:17 Lee8thbuff Changes to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Aug-2015. Added FINAL OPERATION to Description.
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 21:46:00 Lee8thbuff Changes to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015. Added Operation/Mission count to Description based on analyis of 303BG Mission Reports associated with this aircraft from Gary Moncur, Historian 303rd Bomb Group website.
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 21:40:36 Lee8thbuff Changes to description and events
Sources

Lee Cuuningham 20-Jul-2015. Edited final operation for this aircraft as MISSION #19 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Reprot of 31-Mar-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 21:27:29 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015 Added MISSION #18 per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 22-Mar-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 21:15:49 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015 Added MISSION #17 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 22-Mar-43, Gary Moncur; Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 21:01:12 Lee8thbuff Changes to description and events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015. Added MISSION event #16 per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 13-Mar-53, Gray Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 20:46:06 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015 Added MISSION #15 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 12-Mar-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 20:30:24 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015 Added MISSION #14 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 6-Mar-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 19:56:29 Lee8thbuff Changes to description and events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015. Added MISSION #13 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 4-Mar-43; Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 19:46:59 Lee8thbuff Changes to description and events
Sources

Lee Cunnningham 20-Jul-2015 Added MISSION #12 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 27-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 19:37:54 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015. Added MISSION #11 event per 303BG Mission Report of 26-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 19:23:28 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunnningham 20-Jul-2015 Added MISSION #10 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 16-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 19:01:04 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015. Added MISSION #8 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 4-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 18:34:06 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015 Added MISSION #6 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 27-Jan-43, Gray Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 18:22:06 Lee8thbuff Changes to description and events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015. Added MISSION #5 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 23-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 18:09:47 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015. Added MISSION #4 event pr 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 13-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 17:50:01 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015. Added MISSION #3 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 6-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 17:32:21 Lee8thbuff Changes to description, events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jul-2015. Added MISSION # 2 event per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 18-Nov-43, Gary Moncur, historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 01:33:02 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Jul-2015. EXPERIMENT Tweaking display of crew MISSION # 1
Date Contributor Update
20 July 2015 01:29:42 Lee8thbuff Changes to description and events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Jul-2015. EXPERIMENT - Added MISSION # 1 event with edit to Description per 303rd Bomb Group Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf
Date Contributor Update
13 February 2015 18:34:06 Lee8thbuff Changes to production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, description, events, unit associations, place associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2015. Added Block Number and Nickname per "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" Roger A, Freeman with David Osborne, Added Mid-Air event , and crafted Description based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A,. Hey MBE; Added crew position, rank, full proper name and disposition per 303rd Bomb Group website, historian Gary Moncur; Made connections to Place and Mission within existing website data; Formatted crew display.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:40:03 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

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