41-24463
Assigned 423BS/306BG Westover 16/8/42; took off from Gander (Newfoundland) en route Thurleigh 5-Sep-42 exploded over Atlantic an hour out. (10 KIS) no trace, ditched off Greenland. Missing Air Crew Report 16344.
P 1Lt. John T. Leahy; CP 2Lt Robert R. Landry;
N 2Lt Andrew J. Hoyt; B 2Lt Frank L. Shannon;
E/TTG TSgt William Blakesley; RO Pvt James L. Wiley;
BTG SSgt Leslie R. Pettyjohn; WG SSgt Roland L. Oikle;
TG SSgt Charles H. Carlton; PASS 1Lt. Rush Poulan (423BS Eng-Off);
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33100937
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 180339873
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-725979
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-726265
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-438008
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 21-Oct-43. Minor edit to take off location, Gander is in Newfoundland not Argentina , error in Dave Osborne data.
Lee Cunningham 21-Oct-2014, Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 16344; "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" Roger A. Freeman with David Osborne; 306th BG Web site http://www.306bg.org/