42-30872 Blonde Bomber Betty Grable aka Ole Puss

Two airmen of the 96th Bomb Group with their B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30872) nicknamed "Blonde Bomber". media-408646.jpg FRE 3995 Two airmen of the 96th Bomb Group with their B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30872) nicknamed "Blonde Bomber". Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 3995 - Two airmen of the 96th Bomb Group with their B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30872) nicknamed "Blonde Bomber".

Delivered Cheyenne 11/8/43; Gr Isle 31/8/43; Assigned 337BS/96BG [AW-R] Snetterton 9/9/43; Missing in Action Bremen 16/12/43 with Lew Kerrick, Co-pilot: George Bleyle, Navigator: Lloyd Thompson, Bombardier: Floyd Eakman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Alton Walker, Radio Operator: Ray Wright, Ball turret gunner: Don Denmead, Waist gunner: Chas Wilder, Waist gunner: Stan Maruso, Tail gunner: Ben Haynes (10 Killed in Action); hit by engine shot off from above then mid air coll with #42-31113 (96BG); crashed North Sea; Missing Air Crew Report 1565. BLOND BOMBER (OLE PUSS).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

96th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Orlando Cartford Asper

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 51st Troop Carrier Wing 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19047602 / O-733576
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot

George Valentine Bleyle

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12076246 / O-680597
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Donald Richard Denmead

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12038122
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Floyd Waldo Eakman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-676928
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Benjamin Lester Haynes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34444117
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Aircraft

42-31113

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Zilch
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Hollland 16 December 1943

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added an association to A/C #42-31113 listed in the A/C "description".

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.

 

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

AAM associated image.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1565 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-30872: Gallery (2 items)

Two airmen of the 96th Bomb Group with their B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30872) nicknamed "Blonde Bomber".

Object number: FRE 3995 - Two airmen of the 96th Bomb Group with their B-17F...