42-31876 Fire Ball Red

media-19562.jpeg UPL 19562 B-17 Flying Fortress 42-31876 'Fireball Red' of the 412th BS, 95th BG, 8AF USAAF.

Object Number - UPL 19562 - B-17 Flying Fortress 42-31876 'Fireball Red' of the 412th BS, 95th BG, 8AF USAAF.

Delivered Cheyenne 30/12/43; Gt Falls 3/1/44; Cheyenne 5/1/44; Kearney 13/1/44; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-Q] Horham 17/2/44; aborted after take off for Dusseldorf 9/9/44 with Bill Lahl, Co-pilot: Theo Bennett, Navigator: Maurice Schwartz (wia), Bombardier: George Goldstein, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ben Powell (wia), Radio Operator: Bill Morgan (wia), Ball turret gunner: Lonnie Freeman (wia), Waist gunner: Gene Russell, Tail gunner: Guillermo Vasquez (wia) (9 RTD, inc five minor wia); #4 out, on return to base overshot runway, hit cement mixer; 70m, sal 10/9/44. FIRE BALL RED.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18193418
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15195598 / O-681970
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson receives the Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-693852
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

  • Date: 26 November 1944
  • Date: 21 November 1944
The B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-50468) nicknamed "Sleeping Dynamite" of the 93rd Bomb Group flies over countryside with a formation of fellow Liberators. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Photo ex a/c 617 11/11/44. Archer.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '1044/R.F. 93BG Libs on way to enemy target 11/11/44.'
  • Date: 11 November 1944
  • Date: 4 November 1944
  • Date: 2 November 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

9 September 1944 Aborted after take off for Dusseldorf 9/9/44. #4 out, on return to base overshot runway, hit cement mixer. (9 x RTD).

Other

Salvaged

10 September 1944 Salvaged 10-9-44.

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space to the nickname.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected the nickname per info in the A/C description section.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Roger Freeman Photo.

Date
Contributorjeepster298
Changes
Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-31876: Gallery (4 items)