42-39759 Pickle Dropper / Sarah Jane
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 8256 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-39759) of the 390th Bomb Group in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: '390BG.'
Delivered Long Beach 24 August 1943; force landed with Pilot Rex H. Bleak Scott Field, Belleville, Illinois 29 September 1943; Scott Field 2 October 1943; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-G] Framlingham 7 October 1943 as "Pickle Dropper". Renamed "Sarah Jane", it went Missing in Action on its 10th mission, to Ludwigshafen 30 December 1943 with Pilot Campbell C. Brigman Jr; Co-pilot: Thomas J. Terrill; Navigator: Ernest L. Stock; Bombardier: Frank A. Tank Jr; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Eric Kolc; Radio Operator: Russell C. Gallo; Left Waist gunner: Leonard H. Cassady; Right Waist gunner: Paul D. Young (those 8 evaded capture). Ball turret gunner: Harold E. Boyce was made Prisoner of War (POW). Tail gunner Charles J. Vanderwarf was seriously wounded and died from injuries on 14 January 1944. He rests at the American Cemetery in Epinal (Vosges), France. Enemy fighters KO’d two engines, starting a fire. Taking Tail gunner Vanderwarf's serious wounds into account, the rest of the crew didn't bail out and Pilot Brigman bellied the B-17 near Wimy, five miles NW of Hirson, in the Aisne Department, France. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 1675.
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: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Missions
- Date: 30 December 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
near Wimy, France | 30 December 1943 | Hit by fighters; crash-landed |
