-
B-17G-15-DL
Blitzing Betsy
388th BG - 562nd BS
Code: U
-
B-17G-15-DL #42-37886 Blitzing Betsy Code: U
388th BG - 562nd BS
Harry Allert - Ground Crew Chief
Lowell Watts Crew
Shot down 6 March 1944
-
SSGT Harold Adrian Brassfield
Tail Gunner
Lowell Watts Crew
388th BG - 562nd BS
standing next to the tail guns of B-17G-15-DL #42-37886 "Blitzing Betsy"
Delivered Denver 2/10/43; Gr Island 21/10/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 25/10/43; Missing in Action Berlin 6/3/44 with Lowell Watts captured by civilians, Co-pilot: Bob Kennedy, Navigator: Emmett Murphy, Bombardier: Ed Kelley, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Ramsey, Radio Operator: Ivan Finkle (6 Prisoner of War); Ball turret gunner: Robert Sweeney, Waist gunner: Don Taylor, Waist gunner: Raymond Hess, Tail gunner: Harold A. Brassfield (4 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft attack, causing mid-air collision with #42-40054 (388BG), crashed near Zwartemeer, near Emmen, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 3089. BLITZING BETSY.
On the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-37886 Blitzin' Betsy was severely damaged by attacks from several FW190s causing it to collide with another 388th B-17, exploding in mid-air and crashing near Emmen, Holland.
Service
Units
-
Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
-
People
-
Military | Master Sergeant (1st Grade) | Crew Chief | 388th Bomb Group
Bronze Star, DUC, EAME
-
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Radio Operator | 388th Bomb Group
-
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 388th Bomb Group
Shot down in a frontal attack by fighters on the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-31135 'Suzy Sagtitz' crashed near Schoonebekerveld, Holland. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
-
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Tail Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
On the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-37886 'Blitzing' Betsy' was severely damaged by attacks from several FW190s causing it to collide with another 388th B-17, exploding in mid-air and crashing near Emmen,...
-
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot/Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
-
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 388th Bomb Group
Ivan Finkle served as a radio operator with the 388th Bomb Group. He completed 21 missions. On 6 March 1944, his 22nd mission, his aircraft 'Blitzing Betsy' was shot down by German fighters returning from first mass daylight raid on Berlin over Holland...
-
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
-
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 388th Bomb Group
On the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-37886 'Blitzin' Betsy' was severely damaged by attacks from several FW190s causing it to collide with another 388th B-17, exploding in mid-air and crashing near Emmen,...
-
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Bombardier | 388th Bomb Group
On the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-37886 'Blitzing Betsy' was severely damaged by attacks from several FW190s causing it to collide with another 388th B-17, exploding in mid-air and crashing near Emmen,...
-
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 388th Bomb Group
On the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-37886 'Blitzin' Betsy' was severely damaged by attacks from several FW190s causing it to collide with another 388th B-17, exploding in mid-air and crashing near Emmen,...
Show more
Missions
-
5 December 1943
This mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a combined force of 216 B-17 from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (10); 92BG (19); 303BG (20); 305BG (20); 306BG (21); 351BG (35); 379BG (21); 381BG (30); 384BG (20); and 301BG (20)...
-
11 December 1943
This mission is a massive raid of 583 heavy bombers on the industrial areas of Emden, Germany. The first element is a combined force of 242 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (24); 92BG (18); 303BG (20); 305BG (21); 306BG (20); 351BG (40)...
-
13 December 1943
The port areas at Bremen and Kiel, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. This is the first mission where more than 600 aircraft are despatched. This mission is comprised of 8 elements. The first element consists 182 B-17s from: 91BG (31);...
-
16 December 1943
This is a massive mission of 631 heavy bombers directed at the port area of Bremen, Germany. The force of 631 included 1 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG dispersed among the attacking formations. The mission is composed of three elements. The first...
-
20 December 1943
The port area of Bremen is the target for 546 heavy bombers. The total includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG. All 12 of these are effective on the target and 11 are damaged. The bomber gunners of this element claim 1-1-0 (this total included with...
-
22 December 1943
This mission is composed of two forces directed at two separate targets, the communication centers at Osnabruck and Munster, Germany. The force attacking at Osnabruck is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 227 B-17s (2 are PFF...
-
24 December 1943
This mission is directed at V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. The attacks are made between 1330-1510hrs. The mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a force of 277 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG ...
-
30 December 1943
The port area and oil refineries at Ludwigshaven, Germany are the target for this massive attack of 710 heavy bombers. The despatch includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG, 11 of these are effective on the mission, 3 are damaged, and the bomber...
-
11 January 1944
Three aviation industry targets in Germany are bombed. The bomber force consists of 291 B-17s despatched from 1st Bomb Division in two elements, one element of 177 B-17s is despatched to Oschersleben, Germany as the primary target, the other 1BD...
-
14 January 1944
This mission is a combined effort of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bomb Divisions to attack V-Weapon sites near the French coast near Pas-de-Calaise. Some targets of opportunity were also bombed. A total of 20 out of 21 V-Weapon sites are hit with varying results.
...
Show more
Places
-
Military site : airfield
Knettishall was built to Class A standard for an American Bomb Group that would be bringing up to forty heavy bombers with them in three or four Squadrons. The 388th Bomb Group, which stayed at Knettishall for their entire service in the ETO, flew B-17...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Delivered |
Denver, CO, USA |
2 October 1943 |
Assigned |
Knettishall, Diss, Suffolk IP22, UK |
25 October 1943 |
388th BG - 562nd BS
|
First 388th BG Mission |
Bordeaux, France |
5 December 1943 |
Failed to Return (FTR) |
Klazienaveen, Netherlands |
6 March 1944 |
Attacked by FW 190's of JG11 over the German/Dutch border on return from Berlin. Though her gunners shot down two of the attackers, Blitzing Betsy was set afire with hits to the #3 engine and to the oxygen bottles under the flight deck. Out of control she collided with the aircraft flying above her, knocking the ball turret off of that ship and peeling the roof away from her own flight deck. Going into a spin, the pilot, Lowell Watts was just beginning to recover from the spin with the aircraft blew apart.
|