41-24445 Six Bits, Southern Belle

Assigned 326BS/92BG Bangor 12-August-42; 340BS/97BG Polebrook August 42; Missing in Action Meaulte 6-September-42 shot down by Hptm Conny Meyer (II/JG26) crashed Flasselles, NW of Amiens, France.; (first 8AF B-17 MIA) SIX BITS aka SOUTHERN BELLE. No MACR issued. 10POW.

P 2Lt Clarence W.Lipsky (POW); CP 1Lt David C. Howard (POW)
N 1Lt David McCorkle (POW); B/Toggler: Sgt Paul D. Drain (POW)
E/TTG Sgt George W. Mow (POW); RO Sgt Tomas T. Matson (POW),
BTG Sgt William H. Warren (POW); WG Sgt Charles F. Travinek (POW)
WG Sgt William B. Dunbar (POW); TG Sgt William Peltier (POW)

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A bomber crew of the 97th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. They are from left to right: Lieutenant Frank R. Beadle, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sergeant Chester Love, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Sergeant Richard Williams, of Utica, New York; Lieutenant Levon Ray, of Poolville Texas; Glen V. Leland, of St. Petersburg, Florida; Sergeant Frank Rebello, Tiverton, Rhode Island; Sergeant Joseph Cummings, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Sergeant Zane Gemmill, of St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Image stamped on reverse: 'Pas

340th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth 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

97th Bomb Group

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

People

Paul D Drain

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15058737
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier/Togglier

William B Dunbar

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6903580
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

David C Howard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-437981
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Clarence W Lipsky

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-430595
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Thomas T Maston

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16019027
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Missions

VIII Bomber Command 10

  • Date: 6 September 1942
  • Official Description: 30 B-17’s strike Avions Potez aircraft plant at Meaulte, while a smaller force bombs 2 A/Fs near Saint Omer. 12 DB-7’s attack Abbeville/Drucat A/F. 2 B-17’s are shot down over Meaulte by ftrs, marking VIII BC’s first loss of aircraft in combat.

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Flesselles, France 6 September 1942 Shot down by enemy aircraft.

Revisions

Date7 Sep 2020 17:37:05
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to nicknames
Sources

Added an additional A/C nickname as listed in the A/C “Description” section.

Date15 Nov 2014 20:15:44
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to description, events and place associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Nov-2014, Connections; crash event location.

Date21 Oct 2014 19:26:05
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to manufacturer
Sources

Lee Cunningham 21-Oct-2014, Block number and manufacturer: "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" Roger A. Freeman with David Osborne.

Date21 Oct 2014 19:24:14
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to production block number, nicknames, description, unit associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 21-Oct-2014. "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. Description updated based on National Archives Records Administration (NARA) POW database.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:02
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log