42-38050 Thunder Bird
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
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 30102863 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18075613 / O-683974
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13033585
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner ; Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36428691
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
![Sergeant Stanley Finch and Sergeant Frank Mallet of the 97th Bomb Group with their squadron insignia, painted on the waist of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication.' [stamp], 'USA(BRI)CC:EMB.' [written annotation] and '212078.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES WAIT FOR ZERO HOUR. Associated Press Photo Shows: Sgt. Stanley Finch of New Bedford Mass. and (right) Sgt. Frank Mallet of Lisbon. ME. smile over th](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379322.jpg.webp?itok=HVleT1iq)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11042237
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
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. |