42-37754 Who Dat - The Dingbat!
The B-17 Fortress 42-37754 'Who Dat - Ding Bat', piloted by 1st Lt. Daniel C Henry crippled and part severed by a flak hit in the fuselage, which killed 3 gunners, miraculously with the aid of escorting P-38 escorts, Lt Henry made it back to base, where the crew less himself and co-pilot Bob Crisler baled out. Henry and Crisler later baled out over the sea and were rescued.
NARA Ref No - 342-FH-3A19100-50478AC
Object Number - UPL 19184 - A crippled Flying Fortress silhouetted over the target at the Reims Champagne Airfield, France which the 8th AF "heavies" smashed it on 28 March...
Delivered Denver 17/8/43; Assigned 534BS/381 BG [GD-K] Ridgewell 20/9/43; on 9th mission Rheims 28/3/44 with Dan Henry, Co-pilot: Bob Chrisler, Navigator: Fred Beardsworth, Bombardier: Rudi Jaciak, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Sebastian Quaresma, Radio Operator: Carl Mongrue, Ball turret gunner: Kyle Wheatley (6 Returned to Duty); Waist gunner: Jim Norcom, Waist gunner: Dick Toler,Tail gunner: Frank Kurtz (3 Killed in Action); sustained severe battle damage, pilot bringing ship home for crew to bail out over base, before dumping ship over North Sea along with three dead gunners; p & cp bailed out over Bawdsey, on Suffolk coast. No MACR. WHO DAT – THE DINGBAT ?
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: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-735246 (14096940 on enlistment)
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier, Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-751959
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14181940
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 28 March 1944
