42-5133 Lady Luck

Delivered Denver 29/2/42; West Palm Beach 7/1/43; Assigned 342BS/97BG Biskra 15/1/43; Chateau-du-Rhumel 3/2/43;



This aircraft supposedly was lost on 17 April 1943 over Palermo. The crew consisting of Harold P Schirmer, William F Murray Jr, Arthur J Price, Vernon J Reed, Jack D Stout, Louie Rosetti, Charles H Starin, Howard Pollock, Clarence P Somers and John V Lyons were all killed in action in the incident. However this crew are also documented as being lost on the same date on B-17 42-2982

Connections

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Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated units from description. Further information about the aircraft, including markings from B-17flyingfortress.de and Joe Baugher

Amended description to reflect that it is not clear which aircraft William F Murray and his crew crashed on. According to a relative of Harold Schirmer on this page, and information on Find a Grave they flew this aircraft 52-5133, however they are listed on the Missing Air Crew Report for B-17 42-2982

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log