Delivered Long Beach 17/3/43; Pueblo 10/4/43; Smoky Hill 7/5/43; Dow Fd 24/5/43; Assigned 534BS/381BG [GD-A] Ridgewell 25/5/43 with Capt Dave Kunkel Sq CO, Capt George Shackley Ops off, Elton Jukes assistant Ops off, Paul Stull eng off, Bill Dailey S-2 off, M/Sgt Percy Casey line chief, M/Sgt Marc Blanchette comm chief, Lee Williams inst spec, S/Sgt Rogelio Valdez pers clk, Lt Jack Firestone nav; received battle damaged on 6/9/43 Stuttgart with Dexter Lishon and force landed Peasemarsh, Sussex, UK; repaired & ret to unit; Missing in Action 13+m Bremen 20/12/43 with Leo Canelake, Co-pilot: Harry Johnson, Navigator: Jesse Boston, Bombardier: Max Cisek, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Paul McDonald, Radio Operator: Tony Hernandez, Ball turret gunner: John Avrett, Waist gunner: Rich Brown, Waist gunner: Tom Phillips, Tail gunner: Francis Belgrasch (10 Killed in Action); flak, ditched North Sea. Missing Air Crew Report 1724. WHALETAIL II.



When under construction, plane made a cameo appearance in the movie "Her's To Hold". The fuselage of the plane can be seen being hoisted through the manufacturing plant and can be identified by the serial number on the tail. Also in the movie were two sister planes that were also sent to Ridgewell. One of the others was Tinker Toy which was lost on the same mission.



Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt. Avrett's great grandson compiled letters home that detailed the personal elements of the mobilization and training preparation. The book is called, "Memoirs from the Suicide Seat". The book gives great insight into some of the pre-deployment preparation that was required of the gunners.