96th Bomb Group
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945.
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42-5885
B-17 Flying Fortress
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The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5885) nicknamed "Kipling's Error the III" of the 96th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-1-9-96)(11-9-43).' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Neies crew.'
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Staff Sergeant Joseph Francis Kotlarz, a tail gunner of the 96th Bomb Group, cleans the guns on his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5885) nicknamed "Kipling's Error the III". Printed caption on reverse: '.'27330 AC - "Hottest tail in town." Preparing his tail guns in last minute readiness is S/Sgt. Joseph F. Kotlarz, son of Mrs Stella Kotlarz, 2820 F. St. Omaha Nebr. Sgt. Kotlarz reigns over the tail gun position in the Fortress, "Kipling's Error III" which is ready for its bombing raid, taking it to Germany and occupied Europe. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO.'
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Howard A Breson, Master Sergeant, Crew Chief, 96th Bomb Group, and his aircraft mechanic crew by their assigned B-17 "Kipling's Error III". Howard is on the left.
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Reuben W. Neie Crew - 413th BS, 96th BG
Delivered Long Beach 20/4/43; Lowry 5/5/43; Smoky Hill 25/5/43; Dow Fd 2/6/43; Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-T] Snetterton 12/6/43; Missing in Action Rostock 11/4/44 with Harry Johnson, Co-pilot: Luther Bailey, Navigator: Herb Springer, Bombardier: Bill Hopkins, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill McAnear, Radio Operator: Jim Learn, Ball turret gunner: Floyd Jenewein, Waist gunner: Mike Morenelis, Waist gunner: Walt Chmiel, Tail gunner: Dick Moore (10 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Baltic Sea. Missing Air Crew Report 3809. KIPLING'S ERROR III.
Service
Units
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337th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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413th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
People
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Orlando Asper
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Co-pilot | 96th Bomb Group
Orlando “Ole” Cartford Asper was born in Kikungshan, Henan Province, China on 13 June 1917, to Lutheran Missionary parents. Returning to the United States, he attended Pacific Lutheran College, in Parkland, Washington. ... -
Luther Bailey
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 April 1944 in B-17 #42-5885 'Kipling's Error III'. Plane crashed into Baltic. Killed in Action (KIA). -
Walter Chmiel
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 April 1944 in B-17 #42-5885 'Kipling's Error III'. Plane crashed into Baltic, Killed in Action (KIA). -
William Hopkins
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 April 1944 in B-17 #42-5885 'Kipling's Error III'. Plane crashed into Baltic, Killed in Action (KIA). -
Floyd Jenewein
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned to 338BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 11-Apr-44 in B-17 42-5885 'Kipling's Error III'. Plane crashed into Baltic, Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 3809 Awards: AM (OLC), PH. -
Harry Johnson
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 April 1944 in B-17 #42-5885 'Kipling's Error III'. Plane crashed into Baltic, Killed in Action (KIA). -
Joseph Kotlarz
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned to 413BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF. Crewmamber B-17 'Kipling's Error III'. 25 x combat missions. ETD Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME. Post war: Re-enlisted USAF serving in Korea conflict. -
James Learn
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 April 1944 in B-17 #42-5885 'Kipling's Error III'. Plane crashed into Baltic, Killed in Action (KIA). -
William McAnear
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 April 1944 in B-17 #42-5885 'Kipling's Error III'. Plane crashed into Baltic, Killed in Action (KIA). -
Richard Moore
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 April 1944 in B-17 #42-5885 'Kipling's Error III'. Plane crashed into Baltic. Killed in Action (KIA).
Places
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Snetterton Heath
Military site : airfield
Intended to be an RAF bomber base, construction of Snetterton Heath started in Autumn 1942 but continued until mid-1943, because it was extended after allocation as an Eighth Air Force bomber base. It had eventually three concrete runways, 50...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Failed to Return (FTR) | Poland | 11 April 1944 |
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 07 November 2020 21:17:44 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 March 2015 17:09:42 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 18-Mar-2015. Added 337th BS to units per MACR 3809. It appears the aircraft was assigned to 413th BS but flown on its fatal mission by a crew from 337th BS. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 March 2015 17:01:30 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 18-Mar-2015. Added aircraft nickname per photograph. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:57 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3809 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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