42-38050 Thunder Bird

media-38170.jpeg UPL 38170 "Ground crew of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. England, 19 April 1945. Aircraft No 42-38050."

Object Number - UPL 38170 - "Ground crew of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. England, 19 April 1945. Aircraft No 42-38050."

Delivered Cheyenne 25/11/43; Syracuse 18/12/43; Presque Isle 22/12/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-U] Molesworth 18/1/44; transferred 384 Grafton Underwood 23/3/45; ret Molesworth 14/4/45; transferred 388BG Knettishall 30/4/45; 116m, retUS Bradley 11/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 1/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 21/12/45. THUNDERBIRD. (Preserved as above from 44-85718 in 303BG livery after restoration at Duxford, UK; also featured in Keith Ferris’ mural at Smithsonian Institute.)

Connections

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

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

James S Andrus
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13094930
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
Richard Baer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16126211
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19069634 / O-758514
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
The 8 Ball Mk II
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18171431
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: "Duckpond"

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Cheyenne AAF, WY 25 November 1943 Delivered Cheyenne AAF 25-Nov-43.

Assigned

Molesworth, UK 18 January 1944 Assigned 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF.

Assigned

Grafton Underwood 23 March 1945 Transferred to 384BG, 8AF USAAF.

Assigned

Molesworth, UK 14 April 1945 Returned to 303BG, 8AF USAAF.

Assigned

Knettishall, UK 30 April 1945 Transferred to 388BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Returned ZI

Bradley AAF, CT 11 July 1945 Returned to Bradley AAF 11-Jul-45.

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA Built at Douglas.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-38050: Gallery (11 items)