41-24342 Stinky Jr
Object Number - UPL 55178 - Waist Gunner Harrison William Welch in front of Stinky Jr.
Assigned 92BG Bovingdon 8/42; 414BS/97BG Polebrook 24/8/42; transferred Maison Blanche, Alg. 20/11/42; Missing in Action Foggia 7/9/43 with Bill Bispham, Pilot: Everett Blogg, Navigator: Glenn J. Rhodes Jr., Co-pilot: Dan Grover, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Roy Dudgeon, Radio Operator: Casimir Chester, Ball turret gunner: Myron Johnson, Waist gunner: Edwin Grogan, Waist gunner: Albt Cahill, Tail gunner: Morton Schlesinger (8 Killed in Action); Missing Air Crew Report 642. STINKY JR.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379318.jpg.webp?itok=n7iztoxa)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-794615
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15096542 / O-798068
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12132293
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33374554
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18018531
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Assigned |
Polebrook, UK | 24 August 1942 | Assigned to 414BS, 97BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Relocated |
Maison Blanche, Algeria | 20 November 1942 | Relocated to Algeria. Re-assigned to 12AF USAAF. |
|
Crashed |
Foggia, Italy | 7 September 1943 | Missing in Action Foggia 7-Sep-43; Hit by flak lost wing and then exploded. 1 x RTD, 2 x POW, 7 x KIA MACR 642 |
|
Assigned |
Bovingdon, UK | Assigned to 92BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Changes to biography as per information in Missing Air Crew Report 642 which confirms William Bispham was pilot on the aircraft when it was shot down.
Removed media association not depicting aircraft.
Link to photo of aircraft removed from markings field to source message
http://www.reddog1944.com/414th_Squadron_Planes_and_Crews.htm#StinkyJr
I updated the crew data to reflect that seven were KIA and not ten. My father, Glenn Rhodes survived and was taken prisoner, along with Myron Johnson, his waist gunner. I am still attempting to find the name of the third survivor.
The crew data needs to be edited. Glenn J. Rhodes Jr. (my father) was the pilot, not the navigator.
The crew data needs to be edited. Glenn J. Rhodes Jr. (my father) was the pilot, not the navigator.
http://www.reddog1944.com/414th_Squadron_Planes_and_Crews.htm#StinkyJr
This is the plane my father was shot down in.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
