42-39840 The Lopin Lobo

Delivered Long Beach 17/9/43; Scott 3/10/43; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-A] Deenethoprpe 13/10/43; transferred AFSC 6/6/44 as development and test aircraft and designated XB-17G; Returned to the USA, used by US Navy from 20/11/45; 4148 BU Bedford 30/1/46; 4136 BU Tinker 24/7/46; 4104 BU Rome 30/1/47; re-assigned 31/3/47. THE LOPIN’ LOBO.

This aircraft was flown by Lt Charles F. Hess on the 1 December 1943 mission to Solingen/Leverkusen. Hit by Flak on the return trip, with motor #4 out and # 3 starting to burn, Hess gave the order to bail out. Six crew members in the back of the plane bailed out and all initially managed to evade, only one succeeding in his evasion, the others being later arrested. As Co-Pilot John Mitchell couldn't find his parachute, the three other officers decided to stay as long as possible on board. The plane ultimately made it back to England, making a forced landing at the RAF Manston air base. See website www.evasioncomete.be for the six evaders' pages (search on 42-39840.)

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19095021 / O-747371
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16066267
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13116815
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Places

Missions

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Lopin Lobo
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website address in Bio

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Research on the crew who participated on the 1 December 1943 mission to Solingen/Leverkusen in this aircraft. Hit by Flak on the return trip, with motor #4 out and # 3 starting to burn the pilot, Lt Charles F. Hess gave the order to bail out. Six crew members in the back of the plane bailed out and all initially managed to evade, only one succeeding in his evasion, the others being later arrested. The plane was ultimately flown back to England. No Missing Air Crew Report.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log