42-31987 Shilaylee, The Little Skipper

A B-17 Flying Fortress (EP-E, serial number 42-31767) nicknamed "Our Gal Sal" of the 100th Bomb Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: 'Our Gal Sal EP-E, 231767 at Mount Farm.' media-387933.jpg FRE 5921 A B-17 Flying Fortress (XR-A serial number42 31987 nicknamed "Shilaylee" of the 100th Bomb Group at Thorpe Abbotts Roger Freeman Collection

Michael P Faley-100th BG Historian

Object Number - FRE 5921 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (XR-A serial number42 31987 nicknamed "Shilaylee" of the 100th Bomb Group at Thorpe Abbotts

Delivered Cheyenne 13/1/44; Kearney 22/1/44; Romulus 23/2/44; Grenier 28/2/44; Assigned 350BS/100BG [LN-A] Thorpe Abbotts 10/3/44; 418BS [LD-D]; Missing in Action Misburg 31/12/44 with Glen Rojohn, Co-pilot: Bill Leek, Navigator: Bob Washington, Bombardier: Jim Shirley, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Orville Elkin, Radio Operator: Ed Neuhaus (6 Prisoner of War); Ball turret gunner: Joe Russo, Waist gunner: Roy Little, Tail gunner: Francis Chase (3 Killed in Action); mid air coll, crashed Rustringen, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 8174/11550. SHILAYLEE aka THE LITTLE SKIPPER.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31326812
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38390860
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19095601 / O-767835
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16134339
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Missions

A B-17 Flying Fortress (EP-E, serial number 42-31767) nicknamed "Our Gal Sal" of the 100th Bomb Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: 'Our Gal Sal EP-E, 231767 at Mount Farm.'
  • Date: 31 December 1944

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nine Lives
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

722, 6207 Missile Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82005, USA 13 January 1944 Delivered Cheyenne AAF 13-Jan-44.

Assigned

Thorpe Abbotts, Diss IP21 4JA, UK 10 March 1944 Assigned to 350BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Kleingärtnerverein Rüstringen e.V., Neuengrodener Weg 50, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany 31 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Misburg mid air collision with 43-38457 crashed Rustringen, Germany 31-Dec-44. 6 x POW, 4 x KIA MACR 11550.

Manufactured

Seattle, WA, USA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Inserted "aka" between 2 nicknames.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 11550 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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