B-17 Flying Fortress
Lieutenant Fort W. Lipe of the 303rd Bomb Group, signals 'V for Victory' from the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-T, serial number 41-24610 ) nicknamed "Joe Btfsplk II". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt. Fort W. Lipe, of the Air Corps, of Irving, Illinois was with the Owens-Illinois Glass Co. He is 23 and is engaged to Miss Edith Kesinger, of 314 North-St., Normal, Illinois. His greeting is silent, optimistic and emphatic. As O.P.S. he sends it in the V sign.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Captain Glenn E. Hagenbuch of the 303rd Bomb Group, leans out of the window of his B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-T, serial number 41-24610) nicknamed "Joe Btfsplk II". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'No, he doesn't want a lift - it's just to let you know everything is thumbs up with him, and that when he and his aircraft get going - well, watch out Hitler. Capt. Glenn E. Hagenbuch, of Utica, Illinois, has changed from the job of farming, to piloting a bomber, and judging by this picture of him leaning out of his aircraft at an American Air Corps station somewhere in England, he's enjoying the life. Capt. Hagenbuch is 27, married, and was educated at La Salle - Peru Junior College.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-T] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42.
Missing in Action St Nazaire 1/5/43 with Vince Walsh, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dave Lee, Waist gunner: Tony Peklinsky (3 Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: John Franklin, Navigator: Ed Zieminski, Bombardier: John Walker, Radio Operator: Emery Knotts, Ball turret gunner: Jim Carithers, Waist gunner: Joe McMahon, Tail gunner: Leroy Moyer (7 Killed in Action).
AA hit, crashed St Nazaire, Fr.
Missing Air Crew Report 15727.
JOE BTFSPLK.
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...
Squadron
Military | Captain | Lead Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
17-Feb-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24579 [PU-F] at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth UK. He was despatched on 26 Operations - 25 credited. Served as a Lead Navigator on 23 of those missions. Completed a 25-Mission...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
24-Jul-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner with 303BG/427BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. 303BG records do not record the exact date that he arrived in the UK, but probably in Oct-42. 303BG records do not indicate that he had a permanent...
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner to 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with the rank of Sergeant. 303BG personnel record does not indicate that he was assigned to any particular crew at that time and does not indicate when he arrived at...
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
12-Jun-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24584 [GN-Q] "Susfu", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Susfu".
Participated in 16 Missions (UNDER CONSTRUCTION). See Biography events.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as Tail Gunner of B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigend to B-17F #41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth,...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA). Shot down 1 May 1943 in B-17 #41-24610 'Joe Btfsplk'. On a mission to uboat yards at St. Nazaire, France, the plane was last seen with an engine on fire heading toward Belle Isle.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
12-Jun-42 Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F #41-24584 [GN-Q] "Susfu", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho with rank of Sergeant. 22-Oct-42 arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Susfu". Credited with 26 missions. Final rank as Staff Sergeant....
Military | Staff Sergeant | Aerial Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
1-May-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner of B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigned to B-17F #41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at...
Military | Captain | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
2-Aug-42 Assigned as a Bombardier on B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar" at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for-Sugar" but there is no record that he flew any missions with that aircraft. 303BG Mission Report...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
15-Sep-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner with 303BG/427BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. Date of arrival in UK not found in 303BG website records. Record indicates that he may have had a permanent assigment as the Tail Gunner of B-17F #41-24610 ...
1 May 1943
The U-boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the primary target. 78 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (19); 305BG (21); 306BG (18). Poor weather frustrates the bombing effort and only 29 of the 78 despatched are effective on the target. The ordnance...
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...
Not yet known
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 February 2020 02:06:53 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” for clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 April 2015 10:27:26 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to nicknames, markings, description and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Added nickname and mission connection from http://www.303rdbg.com |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:03 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15727 / MACR 17727 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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