41-24561 The Duchess, Sure Stuff

Ground crew work of the 303rd Bomb Group work on the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Duchess". Passed for publication 20 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Famous Fortresses. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Ground crewmen at work on the Fortress "Duchess", which has already been on 50 missions over enemy territory. They are (left to right, lower): Sgt. Clyde L. Dewald, of 200 E Union St., Schnykill Haven, Penn.; and Sgt. James C. Hicks, of Rowtob, Henderson, K.Y.; (Upper) Cpl. Charles media-407587.jpg FRE 4205 Ground crew work of the 303rd Bomb Group work on the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Duchess". Passed for publication 20 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Famous Fortresses. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Ground crewmen at work on the Fortress "Duchess", which has already been on 50 missions over enemy territory. They are (left to right, lower): Sgt. Clyde L. Dewald, of 200 E Union St., Schnykill Haven, Penn.; and Sgt. James C. Hicks, of Rowtob, Henderson, K.Y.; (Upper) Cpl. Charles H. Stoner, of 710 Clark Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4205 - Ground crew work of the 303rd Bomb Group work on the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Duchess". Passed for publication 20 Jan 1944....

Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-T] Bangor 10/9/42; Molesworth 16/10/42; 59m transferred 1 Base Air Depot (sic),* Burtonwood 7/7/44; Returned to the USA Altus 18/8/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 14/8/45. Over Vegasack 18/3/43 with Capt Harry Stouse, Navigator: Jesse Elliott, brought damaged ship home with severely wounded Jack Mathis-b (awarded posthumous MOH). SURE STUFF aka THE DUCHESS.

* Air Base Depot (BAD1)

Connections

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Units served with

People

Vern Lavon Moncur

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19073360 / O-742761
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Lieutenant Reeder and his crew, of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, with their B-17 Flying Fortress, nicknamed "The Duchess". Printed caption on reverse of print: '61772 AC - Lt. Reeder and crew of the 359th Bomb. Sqd., 303rd Bomb. Group besides a Boeing B-17 "The Duchess", England, 17 July 1943. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Ellis Daniel Mowery

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13098655
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
Lieutenant Reeder and his crew, of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, with their B-17 Flying Fortress, nicknamed "The Duchess". Printed caption on reverse of print: '61772 AC - Lt. Reeder and crew of the 359th Bomb. Sqd., 303rd Bomb. Group besides a Boeing B-17 "The Duchess", England, 17 July 1943. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Dayton Monroe Reeder

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14065192 / O-735661
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Major Eugene Allen Romig, an airman of the 303rd Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257539.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Holder of the D.F.C. and Air Medal, Major Eugene Allen Romig, aged 25, is now serving with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain as a pilot. His home address is 910 Troy Place, N.W. Canton, Ohio, and in civil life he was a student. U 76. Not to be published before April 20, 1943.'

Eugene Allen Romig

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Combat Bomb Wing 303rd Bomb Group 351st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 457th Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (351st Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-21856
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Reeder and his crew, of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, with their B-17 Flying Fortress, nicknamed "The Duchess". Printed caption on reverse of print: '61772 AC - Lt. Reeder and crew of the 359th Bomb. Sqd., 303rd Bomb. Group besides a Boeing B-17 "The Duchess", England, 17 July 1943. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Harvey M Salk

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11037000 / O-798889
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Sustained heavy damage

U-Boat Pens, Vegesack-Bremen, Germany 18 March 1943 Duchess would sustain heavy damage, mostly ending her career, in the same action that Lt Jack Mathis would earn his MoH.

Delivered

BAD 1 7 July 1944 Moved to BAD 1* Burtonwood Airfield Base Air Depot

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

Date
ContributorCastleBren
Changes
Sources

303rd Bomb Group

Date
ContributorCastleBren
Changes
Sources

303rd Bomb Group records

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

Correction to designation/ acronym.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Roger Freeman photo.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Roger Freeman photo.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

41-24561: Gallery (8 items)