42-5780 Black Swan

Delivered Long Beach 27/1/43; Denver 1/2/43; Salina 10/2/43; Morrison 5/3/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-N] Molesworth 8/4/43; Missing in Action St Nazaire 1/5/43 with Jay Sterling, Radio Operator: Harley Fields, Ball turret gunner: Art McCormick, Waist gunner: Dan Cashman, Waist gunner: Bill Whalon,Tail gunner: Jesse Cleavelin (6 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: John Neill, Bombardier: Dave Parker, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Powell Griffin (3 Prisoner of War); Navigator: Harry Roach (EVD-returned UK 29/6/43); enemy aircraft, exploded and crashed St Pere-en-Retz, near St Nazaire. BLACK SWAN.

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.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Daniel J Cashman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11051919
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Jessie C Cleavelin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Harley W Fields

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16014360
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner

Powell E Griffin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34162922
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Arthur R McCormick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

1 May 1943

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/032.pdf

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/031.pdf

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15727 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database