42-37801 The Duchess : Dynamite Express
Delivered Denver 2/9/43; Gr Island 1/10/43; Assigned 547BS/384BG [SO-G] Grafton Underwood 25/11/43; Missing in Action Oberpfaffenhofen 16/3/44 with Edwin Ledbetter, Co-pilot: Tom Miles, Navigator: Elvin Noxon, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gordon Neves, Radio Operator: Bob Webster, Ball turret gunner: Jim Walsh {fractured thigh}, Waist gunner: Ralph Haught, Tail gunner: Roy Cook (8 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Ed Poremba, Waist gunner: Jim Johnson (2 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crash landed N of Lhuitre, six miles S of Mailly-le-Camp, Fr; Missing Air Crew Report 3243. THE DUCHESS aka DYNAMITE EXPRESS.
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12146789
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner / Flexible Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15070899 / O-665749
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
Missions
- Date: 20 December 1943
- Date: 16 December 1943
- Date: 13 December 1943
![Personnel of the 94th Bomb Group at a mission briefing. A censor has obscured the maps and charts in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press'[stamp],'Passed for publication 14 December 1943.'[stamp] '296691.'[Censor no] Printed caption on reverse: 'Operations Room at US Air Base. Preparing for take off. Associated Press photo shows: Col.F. W. Castle, Group Commanding Officer, gives the massed crews of the base the last part of the briefing, and a personal 'Godspeed' and 'Good Luck' in](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408449.jpg.webp?itok=nKEJNh_9)
- Date: 11 December 1943
- Date: 5 December 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
16 March 1944 |
Revisions
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.
Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3243 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database