42-31989 Spam Can : Black Magic : Shady Lady

A B-17G Flying Fortress (ET-B, serial number 42-31989) of the 336th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group that has crash-landed 1 April 1944. Official caption on image: "569(44). 4-1-44. Hon. Crash Landing Damage. B-17G, 42-31989. AM-FS..." media-408544.jpg FRE 3907 A B-17G Flying Fortress (ET-B, serial number 42-31989) of the 336th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group that has crash-landed 1 April 1944. Official caption on image: "569(44). 4-1-44. Hon. Crash Landing Damage. B-17G, 42-31989. AM-FS..." Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 3907 - A B-17G Flying Fortress (ET-B, serial number 42-31989) of the 336th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group that has crash-landed 1 April 1944. Official...

Delivered Cheyenne 13/1/44; Kearney 22/2/44; Grenier 25/2/44; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-M] Horham 27/2/44; 336BS [ET-B]; on return from mission landing gear would not lower and crash landed RAF Honington, Suffolk, with Harry Rivenbark, Co-pilot: cp-Boll Bohrer, Navigator: Alex Cochran, Bombardier: Lewis Mayo, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ken McGraw, Radio Operator: Tony Locicero, Ball turret gunner: Harry Chase, Waist gunner: John Friedman, Waist gunner: Tom Robertson, Tail gunner: John Gregovich (10 Returned to Duty);



75m, Missing in Action Munich 25/2/45 with Karel Havlik, Co-pilot: Don Johnson, Navigator: Lloyd Brandborg, Bombardier: Sgt Bob Welsh, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Maruk, Radio Operator: Tom Conry, Ball turret gunner: George Hintz, Waist gunner: Chas Jones, Tail gunner: Wilbur Schraner (9 INT); the pilotless aircraft flew on to crash landed Muswangen, on edge of Lake Baldegger, near Emmensee, Switz; BLACK MAGIC (not painted on a/c).

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
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
  • Service Numbers: O-749187
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Air Force officer pinning award or ribbon on uniform of SSG Beeks
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20441207
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12170026
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Missions

  • Date: 25 February 1945
  • Date: 24 February 1945
  • Date: 22 February 1945
  • Official Description:
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
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5725) nicknamed "This is IT!" of the 381st Bomb Group opens her bomb bay doors during a mission.
  • Date: 30 December 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

1 April 1944 On return from mission landing gear would not lower and crash landed RAF Honington, Suffolk. (10 x RTD) Pilot Lt Harry R Rivenbark.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

24 May 1944 - 24 May 1944 Failed to Return Munich mission 25/2/45. The pilotless aircraft flew on to crash land at Muswangen, on edge of Lake Baldegger, near Emmensee, Switzerland. (9 x INT).

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Contributorjmoore43
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Sources

Added a space (2 places) in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity .

Date
Contributorcgcedisto
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Sources

When flown by the 336th Bomb Squadron's Howard Slusser crew (Apr - Jul 1944), this aircraft was known as "Shady Lady".

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
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ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 5177 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-31989: Gallery (5 items)