42-31539

A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 306th Bomb Group leave contrails behind as they fly in formation. B-17 (serial number 42-31539) is visible in the foreground. Printed caption on reverse: '27814 USAF - with their contrails blending into the clouds below them, these Flying Fortresses of the U.S. Army 8th Ari Force head out over Europe to blast Nazi installations deep inside Germany. The large black burst in the centre of the photo is thought to be a ground fired enemy rocket. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO.' media-379035.jpg FRE 1169 A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 306th Bomb Group leave contrails behind as they fly in formation. B-17 (serial number 42-31539) is visible in the foreground. Printed caption on reverse: '27814 USAF - with their contrails blending into the clouds below them, these Flying Fortresses of the U.S. Army 8th Ari Force head out over Europe to blast Nazi installations deep inside Germany. The large black burst in the centre of the photo is thought to be a ground fired enemy rocket. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '306th BG Thurleigh.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1169 - A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 306th Bomb Group leave contrails behind as they fly in formation. B-17 (serial number 42-31539) is visible...

Delivered Cheyenne 20/11/43; Gr Island 5/12/43; Romulus 16/12/43; Presque Is 19/12/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-O] Thurleigh 4/1/44; Missing in Action Erding 24/4/44 with Dale Ebert, Co-pilot: Ken Hall, Navigator: Tony Baltunas, Bombardier: Julius Tobias, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ken Feltner, Radio Operator: Chas Hamby Wounded in Action, Ball turret gunner: Jim Early, Waist gunner: Jim Stotts (later committed suicide by jumping from a hospital window, 16/10/44), Waist gunner: Ira Walker, Tail gunner: Martin Knapp (10 INT); enemy aircraft KO’d #3 & #4, crash landed Neftenbach, Switz; Missing Air Crew Report 4821. NOTE: Correct MACR number is 4281, NOT 4821.

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/90957843

Connections

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Units served with

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-807967
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16031726
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-687565
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35395664
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-687587
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Switzerland 24 April 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated the location of the "Interned (INT)" event to Switzerland per info in the "Summary biography".

 

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorDouglas P
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4281 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-31539: Gallery (3 items)