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41-24585

B-17 Flying Fortress

  • A B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24585) formerly of the 303rd Bomb Group, in Luftwaffe markings after being captured by the Germans. Handwritten caption on reverse: '303BG lost 12/12/42.'

    A B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24585) formerly of the 303rd Bomb Group, in Luftwaffe markings after being captured by the Germans. Handwritten caption on reverse: '303BG lost 12/12/42.'

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  • A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24585) captured by the Luftwaffe. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Picture illegally taken at the German-occupied Leeuwarden Air Base, summer 1943 (?). It shows a B-17 shot down in the Northern part of Friesland, made ready for flight by the Germans and with Luftwaffe Insignia. Shortly afterwards the B-17, being flown over to Germany, was shot down definitely by an RAF fighter near Nieuweschans, on the Dutch-German frontier.’ Second handwritten caption on reverse: '124585?'

    A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24585) captured by the Luftwaffe. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Picture illegally taken at the German-occupied Leeuwarden Air Base, summer 1943 (?). It shows a B-17 shot down in the Northern part of Friesland, made ready for flight by the Germans and with Luftwaffe Insignia. Shortly afterwards the B-17, being flown over to Germany, was shot down definitely by an RAF fighter near Nieuweschans, on the Dutch-German frontier.’ Second handwritten caption on reverse: '124585?'

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  • A Luftwaffe officer with a captured B-17 Flying Fortress, (serial number 41-24585) nicknamed

    A Luftwaffe officer with a captured B-17 Flying Fortress, (serial number 41-24585) nicknamed "Wulfe Hound", formerly 303rd Bomb Group, painted in Luftwaffe markings. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17 in Deelen, Holland, 1944.'

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B-17F #41-24585 "Wulfe-Hound" was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-B] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Missing in Action Rouen-Sotteville 12-Dec-42 sustained damage from enemy aircraft, force landed in a field in France. Was removed and repaired by the Germans and flew with KG200. No MACR issued. 4 POW 6 EVD. Aircraft participated in 3 Operations. (See Biography events)

18-Nov-42 Mission #1 - U-Boat pens, St. Nazaire, France (See Biography)
6-Dec-42 Mission #2 - Carriage & Wagon Works, Lille, France (See Biography)
12-Dec-42 LAST OPERATION Mission #3 Railroad marshalling yards, Rouen, France. (See biography)

First B-17 captured by Luftwaffe restored at Rechlin, Ger. and used for affiliation and demonstration duties, then assigned to I./KG200 as A3+AE in Sep 43. Transferred to ELG at Wadi Tamet, Libya as part of the station coded Traviata to study British troop movements, but on 16-Apr-44 was low on fuel and pilot Ober Lt Dumke slightly injured was forced to ditch in shallow water in Bay of Kalamata with no loss to crew.

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

  • George Dillard

    Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    Assigned to B-17F 41-24602 [PU-A] "Yardbird", 303BG/360BS on 10-Oct-42 at Battle Creek, Michigan as a Ball Turret Gunner and arrived with that aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 16-Oct-42. He was attached to "Yardbird" for 2 operations (1 of which was...

  • Iva Fegette

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 303rd Bomb Group
    Shot down in B-17F 41-24585 'Wulfe Hund', 303BG/360BS while serving as Radio Operator. Evaded. Participated in 3 missions (See Biography events) with B-17F 41-24585 and evaded capture and returned to England on 25-May-43. He then returned to the 303BG...

  • Paul Flickinger

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 12 December 1942 in B-17 41-24585 [PU-B] 'Wulf Hound' while serving as Pilot. Prisoner of War (POW). Participated on 3 missions (See Biogrqaphy events). POW

  • James Gordon

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    26-Jul-42 Assigned as Aerial Gunner of B-17F 41-24563 [PU-H] "Garbage", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK, aboard "Garbage". ...

  • Frederick Hartung

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    Assigned to B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soldier" [PU-C], 303BG/360BS as Left Waist Gunner as a substitute for SSGT Woodrow W. Smith on 17-Nov-42 and flew 3 Operations with that crew. (See Biography events). ...

  • Kenneth Kurtenbach

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    Assigned as a Tail Gunner to B-17F 41-24602 [PU-A], "Yardbird", 303BG/360BS at Pendleton Field, Oregon. Arrived with that aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 16-Oct-42 and participated in 2 operations (1 of which aborted) with that aircraft. (See Biography...

  • Alan Magee

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    Jun-42 Assigned as a Ball Turret Gunner with the 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. 303BG records to do not indicate that we was permanently assigned to a crew and do not specify when he arrived in the UK. ...

  • Marvin Milam

    Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    303BG website records do not indicate when he was assigned to the 303BG/360BS and they do not indicate that he was assigned to a regular crew. As is common with Aerial Gunners he may have been assigned to some type of ground duty and only flew missions...

  • Lincoln O'Connell

    Military | Master Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    23-Jun-42 Assigned as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24585 [PU-B], "Wulfe Hound", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth,UK aboard "Wulfe Hound". ...

  • Beverly Polk

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 12 December 1942 in B-17 41-24585 [PU-B] 'Wulfe Hund', 303BG/360BS while serving as Bombardier on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. Prisoner of War (POW). Pariticpated in 3 missions (See Biography events). POW

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Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 25

    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...

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
Crew Assigned Biggs Field, TX 79918, USA 23 June 1942

Original Crew:

P 1LT Paul F. Flickinger CP 2LT Jack E. Williams
N 2LT Gilbert T. Schowalter B 2LT Beverly R. Polk
E/TTG TSGT William A. Whitman RO SSGT Iva L. Fegette
BTG SGT Joseph R. Sunderlin LWG SSGT Arnold H. Schlotfelt
RWG CPL Brondle E. Kinyon TG SGT Lincoln T. O'Connell.
Arrived at Station Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 14 October 1942

B-17F 41-24585, 303BG/360BS arrived at Molesworth, UK with the following crew:

P 1LT Paul F. Flickinger CP 2LT Jack E. Williams
N 2LT Gilbert T. Schowalter B 2LT Beverly R. Polk
E/TTG TSGT William A. Whitman RO SSGT Iva L. Fegette
BTG SGT Joseph R. Sunderlin LWG SSGT Arnold H. Schlotfelt
TG SGT Lincoln T. O'Connell.

CPL Brondle E. Kinyon had been deleted from the crew prior to 303BG leaving for England and was reassigned to the 360th BS Armament Unit at Molesworth.
Mission #1, B-17F 41-24585, 303BG/360BS Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942

CREW

P 1LT Paul F. Flickinger (RTB); CP 2LT Jack E. Williams (RTB)
N 2LT Gilbert T. Schowalter (RTB); B 2LT Beverly R. Polk (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT William A. Whitman (RTB); RO SSGT Iva L. Fegette (RTB)
BTG SGT Joseph R. Sunderlin (RTB); LWG SSGT Arnold H. Schlotfelt
RWG Lincoln T. O'Connell (RTB);
TG TSGT William B. Stamper (RTB).
Mission #2, B-17F 41-24585, 303BG/360BS Lille, France 6 December 1942

P 1LT Paul F. Flickinger (RTB); CP 2LT Jack E. Williams (RTB)
N 2LT Gilbert T. Schowalter (RTB); B 2LT Beverly R. Polk (RTB)
E/TTG TSGT William A. Whitman (RTB); RO SSGT Iva L. Fegette (RTB)
BTG SSGT Alan E. Magee (RTB); LWG TSGT William R. Stamper (RTB)
RWG Marvin L. Milliam (RTB); TG SSGT James I. Gordon.(RTB).
Mission #3 B-17F 41-24585, 303BG/360BS Rouen, France 12 December 1942

CREW

P 1LT Paul F. Flickinger (POW); CP 2LT Jack E. Williams (EVD)
N 2LT Gilbert T. Schowalter (EVD); B 2LT Beverly R. Polk (EVD)
E/TTG TSGT William A. Whitman (EVD); RO SSGT Iva L. Fegette (EVD)
BTG SGT George N Dillard (POW); LWG TSGT Frederick A. Hartung (EVD)
RWG SGTNorman P. Therrien (EVD); TG SSGT Kenneth J. Kurtenbach (POW)
Nicknames
Wulfe-Hound
Production block number
B-17F-27-BO
Manufacturer
Boeing
Markings and paint scheme/livery

Radio Call Sign: B
Waist ID: PU-B
Nose Art: "Wulfe-Hound" text and hound with broken German fighter in mouth

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
02 December 2020 04:11:07 jmoore43 Changes to description
Sources

Added spaces in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Date Contributor Update
05 August 2018 00:18:51 Grandson_of_Whitman Changes to media associations
Sources

Personal discussions and pictures from my grandfather, William A. Whitman, engineer and top turret gunner on B-17 41-24585 "Wulfe-Hound."
Date Contributor Update
05 August 2018 00:06:32 Grandson_of_Whitman Changes to markings
Sources

Personal discussions and pictures from my grandfather, William A. Whitman, engineer and top turret gunner on B-17 41-24585 "Wulfe-Hound."
Date Contributor Update
04 August 2018 23:33:09 Grandson_of_Whitman Changes to nicknames, markings and description
Sources

Personal discussions and pictures from my grandfather, William A. Whitman, engineer and top turret gunner on B-17 41-24585 "Wulfe-Hound."
Date Contributor Update
06 March 2017 10:31:52 Snautzer Changes to nicknames
Sources

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/b17fortress.html
Date Contributor Update
07 December 2015 20:47:25 Lee8thbuff Changes to description and events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf
Date Contributor Update
07 December 2015 20:39:00 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Dec-2015. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reoport of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Date Contributor Update
07 December 2015 20:28:20 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Dec-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Date Contributor Update
07 December 2015 20:12:37 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Dec-2015. Added Arrival at station event with crew changes per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Paul F. Flickinger crew page.: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-flickenger.html.
Date Contributor Update
07 December 2015 19:59:22 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Dec-2015. Added Original Crew event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Paul F. Flickenger crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-flickenger.html
Date Contributor Update
07 December 2015 19:41:31 Lee8thbuff Changes to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Dec-2015. Added Mission participation to Description per research of 303BG Mission Reports at the 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian.
Date Contributor Update
03 December 2014 21:19:25 Lee8thbuff Changes to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Dec-2014. Description corrected as to forced landing location in France rather than Holland as originally reported in the data ingest. Correction based on 'Losses of the 9th & 9th AIr Forces' Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Date Contributor Update
10 November 2014 18:39:44 Lee8thbuff Changes to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Nov-2014. Confirmation of Bishop & Hey crash account form E&E Reports. (NARA).
Date Contributor Update
10 November 2014 17:51:03 Lee8thbuff Changes to description
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Nov-2014. Description note added.
Date Contributor Update
10 November 2014 17:37:44 Lee8thbuff Changes to production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, description, unit associations, place associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Nov-2014. "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:40:03 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

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