42-31050

Delivered Cheyenne 11/9/43; Gr Island 3/10/43; Assigned 525BS/379BG [FR-R] Kimbolton 19/10/43; transferred 527BS;



Missing in Action Frankfurt 29/1/44 with Jack Rhyner, Co-pilot: Leon Lovens, Radio Operator: Fred Brown, Ball turret gunner: Walt Eckleberry (4 evaded capture);



Navigator: Jim Dennis, Bombardier: Harry Walz, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Ventimiglia captured 16/3/44, Waist gunner: John Ault, Waist gunner: Larry Giles captured 16/3/44, Tail gunner: Frank Mabante (6 Prisoner of War);



Shot down by enemy aircraft, crash landed Bra-Lierneux, Liege, Bel.; Missing Air Crew Report 2874.



The crash site was recently discovered by the Bulge Relics Museum, in the Belgian Ardennes.

The location of the crash site is in the Joubieval-Ottre area. The team found lots of B-17 parts there including an aluminum plate with the number stenciled : - 31050

For more detailed information see: http://bulgerelics.skynetblogs.be/

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39314655
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Frankfurt, Germany 29 January 1944

Crashed

Joubiéval, Belgium 29 January 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Correspondence with Jean-François Noirhomme, curator of the Bulge Relics Museum.
See also: http://bulgerelics.skynetblogs.be/

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2874 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database