42-31081 Son of a Blitz

media-29392.jpeg UPL 29392 Tail, 'Son of A Blitz', part of composite 'Keep 'Em Flying' image about Ground Grews from U.S. National Archives' image 65611AC.

U. S. National Archives Still Picture Branch Image 65611AC

Object Number - UPL 29392 - Tail, 'Son of A Blitz', part of composite 'Keep 'Em Flying' image about Ground Grews from U.S. National Archives' image 65611AC.

B-17G ser. 42-31081, 'Son of A Blitz':



1. According to Boeing, it was Manuf. No. 6195, delivered September 16, 1943, 'GFE' (Gov't Furnished Equipment, Wright Field, Dayton, OH, although it may not have ever physically been there). It was camoflague color scheme.



2.Summer 1943, the (newly formed) 401st Bomb was training (before moving overseas) in WA. Its Group's 613Sq. training in Cut Bank WA, had 2nd.Lt. Russell M. Fowler Pilot and his Co-Pilot, Navigator and Flight Engineer go pick-up a/c 42-31081 in Seattle, and upon return continued training and 'tuning-up' a/c 42-31081.



3. The 2nd.Lt. Russell Fowler Crew then ferried a/c 42-31081 to Deenethorpe (with stops on St.Louis MO, Syracuse NY, Bangor ME, and Gander Bay NF (where a/c 42-31081 was fitted with a bomb bay fuel tank). Then non-stop to Prestwick Scotland. 2d Lt Russell M. Fowler (P); 2d Lt Walter J. Murphy (CP); 2d Lt Jack B. Priest (N); 2d Lt Allen G Buchanan Jr.(B); Sgt Alexander F. Tryba (ETT); Sgt Hugh W.Charnes (Rad); Sgt Charles E. Kashner (LWG); Sgt David N. Hadsell (RWG); Sgt Louis Florez (BTG); Sgt Richard V. Martinez (TG).



4. At Deenethorpe the Fowler Crew's BTG Sgt. L. Florez suggested the 'Son of A Blitz' name and the Crew agreed. Per LWG Sgt. C. Kashner: 'Son of A Blitz' was painted in script on both sides of the a/c nose and angling down to the front with a 'gremlin' riding a falling bomb rodeo style. And at each crew position, their name was printed-on in block letters on the outside of the a/c.



5. The Fowler Crew flew most of their Missions (the last May 22, 1944), in 'Son of A Blitz' as 'their' plane except when grounded for repairs; and there was an official 'Fowler Crew' photo taken in-front of 'Son of A Blitz' -- according to a Crew member. (But no copy of the photo yas been locared to-date.



6. Octiber 7, 1944, the 1st.Lt. Augustus J. Nelson Crew flew a/c 42-31081 in Squadron Deputy Lead position to Politz Ger., 401st Mission 154. [The Nelson Crew had flown in a/c 42-31081 once or twice previously]. Per the Mission Report and MACR 9757, Son of A Blitz was hit by Flak directly over the target and most of the nose blown off. Witnesses reported possibly 1-3 chutes seen. [There were none. The Crew was MIA then declared KIA: 1st.Lt. Augustus J. Nelson (P); 2nd.Lt. Edgar W. Nevois (CP); 2nd Lt. John S. Kulczycki,Jr (N); 2nd Lt. Blaine B. Wilcox (B); T/Sgt. Lawrence E. Williams (ETT); S/Sgt. John T. Dorris (Rad); S/Sgt. Bobbie D. Anderson (WG); S/Sgt. Frank R. Majeski (BTG) & S/Sgt. James J. McCarthy (TG).

Connections

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

Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36703821
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Togglier, Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38468656
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735233
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator; Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39912984
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Missions

  • Date: 7 October 1944
  • Date: 3 October 1944
  • Date: 17 September 1944
  • Date: 13 September 1944
  • Official Description:
French civillians inspect a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32086) nicknamed "You Never Know" of the 457th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '10/9/44 France.'
  • Date: 10 September 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 7 October 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorWin Bryson
Changes
Sources

Boeing letter; Fowler Crew recollections, MACR 9757

Date
ContributorWin Bryson
Changes
Sources

Boeing letter, Fowler Crewmen recollections, MACR 9757.

Date
Changes
Sources

Moved biographical details for SOURCE information to Bio information.

Date
ContributorWin Bryson
Changes
Sources

The 10-man Lt. Nelson B-17 Crew arrived at Deenethorpe July 23, 1944. At that time, the 401st was flying 9-man Crews (diminished enemy air attacks), so the 2-Waist Gunners alternated Mission days flying with their Crewmates (but also flew with other Crews to keep their Mission-count up). S/Sgt. Clifford C. Newby, LWG was the 10th Crewman, did not fly Oct. 7, 1944 when the Crew was shot-down - it wasn't his turn. He went-on to fly 30-Missions, many as 'Toggelier' (in the Bombardier's position, but 'dropping' the bomb load when he saw the Lead a/c drop theirs).

Date
ContributorWin Bryson
Changes
Sources

Win Bryson's 2004 phone interview with Charles Kashner, LWG, 613Sq. Lt Fowler Crew - that Crew ferried 'Son of A Blitz' to Deenethorpe, named it and flew it as 'theirs' for most of their Misisons.

Date
ContributorRWOLIVER
Changes
Sources

401bg.org

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 9757 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-31081: Gallery (15 items)