B-17 Flying Fortress
Note : The B-17G, 42-31892, was one of several B-17Gs in the 8th Air Force named, I'll Be Around, after the popular song in 1944, "I'll Be Around". WWII air crews often chose to name their airplanes with names already in use.
Production Block : B-17G-30-BO - SN 42-31892
Manufacturer : Boeing
Bomb Group : 390th Bomb Group
Bomb Squadron : 570th Bomb Squadron
RCL: DI-H
Fate: Lost by mechanical fault (FTR). - Fire. 4 Jun 1944.
The B-17G, 42-31892, named, I'll Be Around, also named, The Skillet, was delivered to Cheyenne, 31/12/43; Kearney 12/1/44; Assigned 570BS/390BG [DI-H] Framlingham 19/2/44.
The aircraft suffered an oxygen fire while assembling for a mission to Boulogne, Germany. Lt. Andy Brown, the Command pilot remained on board in an attempt to land, but crashed at Easthorpe, near Colchester, and was KIA. The rest of crew bailed out successfully. 9 RTS - 1 KIA. 4/6/44. Aircraft was salvaged (RTS). 5/7/44.
B-17G - 42-31892 - I'll be Around Crew :
Lt. Andy Brown - Command Pilot (Killed in Action)
Lt. Leroy Holmberg - Co-pilot
George Benton - Navigator
Ellis McClintick - Bombardier
Jack Pelton - Radio Operator
Bob Pinkus - Ball Turret Gunner
Dick Autry - Waist Gunner
Jim Gates - Waist Gunner
Bob Baldi - Tail Gunner
Bill Kick - Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
B-17 Flying Fortress
Note : This B-17G, Serial Number 43-37603, named, I'll Be Around, should not be mistaken for several other B-17Gs, also named, I'll Be Around, after the name of an American contemporary popular song, "I'll Be Around", in 1944. ...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Production Block : B-17G-110-VE: SN 44-85828 / restored to 42-31892
...
Group
The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...
Squadron
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Tail Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 52
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 390th Bomb Group
Shot down 8 March 1944 in B-17 #4237812 'Heavenly Body. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 47
Military | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 52
Military | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | Waist Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 51
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator | 390th Bomb Group
Crew Number 47
4 March 1944
The industrial areas in the suburbs of Berlin, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. All three Air Divisions despatch formations. However, the despatch from 2nd Air Division aborted the mission because of severe weather in the assembly area...
6 March 1944
The industrial areas of Berlin and Genshagen, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. A combined force of 730 heavy bombers are despatched from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. The despatch from 3rd Air Division bombs Targets of Opportunity in...
15 March 1944
The industrial areas of the secondary target of Brunswick, Germany. A combined force of 344 heavy bombers from 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions are despatched. Mission Summary follows:
...
16 March 1944
The two primary targets for this mission are: the industrial areas of Augsburg, Germany and Friedrichshafen, Germany. A combined force of 720 heavy bombers are despatched from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. The bomber gunners of the combined despatch...
18 March 1944
The German aircraft industries and aie depots are the main objectives of this mission. A combined total of 738 heavy bombers from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions are despatched to bomb the German aircraft industries at Oberpfaffenhofen and...
19 March 1944
V-Weapon sites in France are the targets for this mission. A combined force of 193 B-17s of 1st and 3rd Air Divisions are despatched. Mission Summary follows:
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22 March 1944
The German aviation industries at Oraneinburg and Basdorf were the intended primary target for this mission but dense cloud cover prevented the attack on these targets. The secondary target of Berlin, Germany and surrounding Targets of Opportunity (TOs...
23 March 1944
The industrial areas of Brunswick, Munster, Osnabruck, and Achmer, Germany as well as the airfield at Handorf, Germany become the targets for a force of 768 heavy bombers despatched by all three Air Divisions. The bomber gunner claims on German...
27 March 1944
This mission might be likened to a "shotgun blast" as a combined force 714 heavy bombers are despatched form all three Air Divisions to attack 11 different German airfields and air depots in France. Mission summary follows:
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28 March 1944
A force of 450 heavy bombers from all three Air Divisions is despatched to bomb the German E-Boat pens at Ijmuiden, Holland and German airfields in France. Mission Summary follows:
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Military site : airfield
Built for the Eighth Air Force from 1942 to 43, Framlingham was home first to the 95th Bomb Group, before that unit moved to RAF Alconbury. From 1943 to 1945, it was operated by the 390th Bomb Group. The airfield was handed back to the RAF in 1945, and...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Delivered | Cheyenne, WY | 31 December 1943 |
| Assigned | Framlingham Airfield, UK | 19 February 1944 |
| Crashed | near Easthorpe, Essex, UK | 4 June 1944 |
|
a/c suffered oxygen fire during assembly. Attempted crash landing at Easthorpe, Essex. All had bailed out except for pilot. The flight engineer was KIA. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 07 November 2021 04:51:46 | Kickapoo | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Name spacing added. - Kickapoo |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 November 2021 01:06:37 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress - The Queen Of The Skies - Master Log. Dave Osborne. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 November 2021 00:59:41 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
B-17 Bomber - Flying Fortress - Queen Of The Skies. - Master Log - 42-31892 - I'll Be There. Dave Osborne |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 November 2021 10:18:01 | Kickapoo | Changes to nicknames, description and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
The B-17 Bomber - B-17 Fortress Master Log - Dave Osborne, |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 November 2020 01:42:16 | 466thHistorian | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 November 2020 01:41:07 | 466thHistorian | Changes to production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, events, unit associations, person associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
http://5085.sydneyplus.com/final/portal.aspx?lang=en-US |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:41 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log |
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