42-3109 | American Air Museum

Nicknames: Stud Duck
Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Production block number: B-17F-25-DL Fortress
Manufacturer: Douglas
Markings & paint scheme: Recommend recive of actual indivdual aircraft history record card for depart US date and initial UK assignment. The assignments, based on similar deliveries, appear to be reversed. The 94th was being assigned a/c in the US in the late first quarter of 1943 and moved to the UK in the second quarter. Many a/c of the 94/95/96 BGs were transfered to the then 1st BW eight groups to shed the 4th BW inventory of lesser tankage B-17F and actualize a longer range force in the then seven group 4th BW. That said, the October 43 appearance in the rrconstitued 92nd BG makes more sense than an 4 -8 mos gap in service. However, an April/May assignment to the re-equiped 92nd would also make sense; as would a July/ Aug transfer from the 94th to the 92nd after inital assignment to the 94th BG. The least likely senario is the long gap from Dow FLd to the first combat assignment.

42-3109 Stud Duck

An airman of the 94th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3109) nicknamed "Stud Duck". Handwritten caption on image: "94th BG #23109."

media-408445.jpg FRE 3823 An airman of the 94th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3109) nicknamed "Stud Duck". Handwritten caption on image: "94th BG #23109." Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 3823 - An airman of the 94th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3109) nicknamed "Stud Duck". Handwritten caption on image: "94th BG...

Delivered Cheyenne 16/2/43; Dow Fd 2/6/43; Assigned 92BG Podington 17/10/43; transferred 332BS/94BG [XM-E] Rougham /43; landing accident at Bovingdon due to structural failure with Chas Cliburn 17/8/43; landing accident at Rougham with Ken Steele 29/9/43; recalled from mission and on landing at base landing gear malfunctioned 9/2/44 with Alwin Kocher, Co-pilot: Henry Wallace, Navigator: Metro Wozniak, Bombardier: Edmond Moreau, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Wood, Radio Operator: Bill Holmes, Ball turret gunner: Joe Anderson, Waist gunner: Herbert Chase, Waist gunner: Gil Debrieski, Tail gunner: Elmer Thomas (10 Returned to Duty); no records until Salvaged 22/6/45. STUD DUCK.