42-31990 Stage Door Canteen
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A46306-C65824AC.
Object Number - UPL 21271 - Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 42-31990 "Stage Door Canteen", of the 381st Bomb Group stationed at an 8th air force base near Ridgewell, Essex,...
Delivered Cheyenne 10/1/44; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-R] Ridgewell 6/4/44; 113m Returned to the USA 5/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 26/2/46. STAGE DOOR CANTEEN.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16139120 / O-772678
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-1313268
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-711783
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: RFC Sales & Storage Depot No. 41
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
Cheyenne Echo Heliport, Cheyenne, WY 82001, USA | 10 January 1944 | Delivered Cheyenne 10-Jan-44. |
|
Other Assigned |
Ridgewell, Halstead, Essex CO9, UK | 6 April 1944 | Assigned 535BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Christened |
Ridgewell, Halstead, Essex CO9, UK | 23 April 1944 | Christened in naming ceremony by Vivien Leigh, Lawrence Olivier and Mary Churchill. |
|
Other 100+ missions |
Ridgewell, Halstead, Essex CO9, UK | 25 February 1945 | 100 mission milestone celebrated with the presentation of a cake by actresses Anna Neagle, Jean Kent and Phyllis Calvert. |
|
Other Scrapped |
Kingman Airport (IGM), 7000 Flightline Dr, Kingman, AZ 86401, USA | 26 February 1946 | Sold for scrap metal. Kingman AFB, USA. 26-Feb-46. |
|
Manufactured |
Seattle, WA, USA | Built at Boeing. |
![Hollywood actress Vivien Leigh speaks to personnel of the 381st Bomb Group in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31990) nicknamed "Stage Door Canteen" during a visit to Ridgewell with Mary Churchill, Lawrence Oliver and Alfred Lunt. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 21 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '316908.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'MARY CHURCHILL CHRISTENS U.S. BOMBER. 21.4.44. Mary Churchill, youngest daughter of the Prime Minister toda](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380059.jpg.webp?itok=9uZcGF4p)
![Hollywood actors Lawrence Olivier and Vivien Leigh with Lieutenant Mary Churchill and Colonel Harry Lebar, commanding officer of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell to christen a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Stage Door Canteen", 21 April 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/4/44, 216.' Press caption from reverse: '316941' [ censor no].' MSR231990' [written annotation].'MARY CHURCHILL CHRISTENS A FORTRESS. The London Stage Door Canteen will open in the near future at Picadilly, London](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413507.jpg.webp?itok=PWDbZbTl)
