42-31740 | American Air Museum

42-31740

Personnel of the 384th Bomb Group don their flight gear before a mission to Berlin in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 24 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '313403.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin, 22/3/44, 231740.'

media-380081.jpg FRE 1284 Personnel of the 384th Bomb Group don their flight gear before a mission to Berlin in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 24 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '313403.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin, 22/3/44, 231740.' Roger Freeman Collection

384thbombgroup.com

Object Number - FRE 1284 - Personnel of the 384th Bomb Group don their flight gear before a mission to Berlin in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed...

Delivered Denver 11/12/43; Kearney 27/12/43; Oklahoma City 12/1/44; Kearney 16/1/44; Assigned 546BS/384BG [BK-T] Grafton Underwood 1/3/44; Missing in Action Marienburg 9/4/44 with George Schock, Co-pilot: Elliott Gadd, Navigator: Ehrhardt Mittendorf, ng-Sgt Jim Yeater, Radio Operator: Chas Hawkins, Ball turret gunner: Lester Van Gorkum, Waist gunner: Morton Hamm (7 Prisoner of War); Waist gunner: Patrick Benker, Tail gunner: Chas Mitchell (2 evaded capture); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lucian Shannon (Killed in Action); flak, crashed Ulsnis, near Steinfeld, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3653.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.

384th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'

546th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

The insignia of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.

Patrick Denis Benker

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 6871687
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: waist gunner

Eleven men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane. Six men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front. Some of the men are wearing cold-weather flying gear.

Elliott Leroy Gadd

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-747390
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Morton W Hamm

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: waist gunner

Charles J Hawkins

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Charles F Mitchell

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 13015599
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Three B-17 bombers on runway with airplane hangers in background

Continental Airlines Modification Center, Denver

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Stapleton Airfield : Stapleton International Airport

Aerial photograph of Grafton Underwood airfield looking north east, Geddington village is on the left, 22 April 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC309. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

Grafton Underwood

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Grafton Undermud

Missions

8th Air Force 293

Date: 9 April 1944

8th Air Force 284

Date: 29 March 1944

8th Air Force 283

Date: 28 March 1944

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31330) of the 452nd Bomb Group releases its bombs over an airdrome in Bordeaux. Printed caption on reverese: '61732 AC- BOMBS AWAY!!!! A Beoing B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the 452nd Bomb Group releases its bombs on the Nazi airdrome, Bordeaux, France, as the air offensive against the enemy reaches an all time high. 27 March 1944. US Air Force Photo.'

8th Air Force 282

Date: 27 March 1944

Airmen and ground crew of the 448th Bomb Group carefully transfer a flak casualty through the waist gun window of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-11-2-448)(26-3-44)(Flak Casualty).' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Patterson.'

8th Air Force 280

Date: 26 March 1944

Events

Event

Location

Date

Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

9 April 1944

Revisions

Date22 Nov 2023 19:12:01

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

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

Date19 Aug 2023 19:32:26

Contributoracbernstein1

Changes

Sources

https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/One384thAircraft.php?Aircraf…

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:40

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3653 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-31740: Gallery (1 items)

Personnel of the 384th Bomb Group don their flight gear before a mission to Berlin in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 24 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '313403.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin, 22/3/44, 231740.'

Object number: FRE 1284 - Personnel of the 384th Bomb Group don their flight...