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).