41-24567 Beats Me

Sergeant Peter Soria of the 303rd Bomb Group swings the propellor of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24567) nicknamed "Beats Me!?". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238766.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Naturally most U.S. boys in Britain wish they were back home and Sergt. Peter Soria of the U.S. Air Corps is no exception. He sends a message to that effect to his home at 172 and Hoyne Aven

Object Number - FRE 1063 - Sergeant Peter Soria of the 303rd Bomb Group swings the propellor of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24567) nicknamed "Beats Me!?". Image...

B-17F 41-24567 [PU:J] "Beats Me" was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-J] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42. Participated in 7 Operations - 2 Aborted (See Biography events)

23-Jan-43 - Mission in Action on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. The aircraft was struck by a bomb dropped from above and crashed in the woods at Bois de Queronic near Pluvinger, France. 7KIA 3POW MACR 15571.

Connections

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

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

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

People

Homer R Allen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-726967
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Samuel H Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Air Service Group 358th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-726969
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

William H Breed

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-431245
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Richard D Callaway

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Roy W Christianson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-790793
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot, Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Arrived at Station

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 16 October 1942 Arrived at Molesworth, UK.

Other

Mission #1 B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 23 November 1942 CREW P 1LT William H. Breed (RTD): CP 1LT Harry T. Sample, Jr. (RTD) N 1LT Homer R. Allen (RTD); B 1LT Homer N. Santerre (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Stanley Putala (RTD): RO TSGT Joseph M. Herbert (RTD) BTG SGT Roy C. Loken (RTD); LWG SSGT Samuel D. Easter(RTD) RWG SSGT Mathias A. Kuffel (RTD); TG SSGT James H. Lentz (RTD)

Other

Mission #2 B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Lille, France 6 December 1942 CREW P 1LT Louis M. Schulstad (RTD); CP 2LT Roy W. Christianson (RTD) N 2LT John H. Embach (RTD): B 2LT Reinaldo Saiz (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Antone Pacheco (RTD) RO SSGT Charles L. Roth (RTD) BTG SGT Peter Soria (RTD); LWG SSGT John H. Sherman (RTD) RWG SGT Jerry W. Robins (RTD); TG SSGT Wayne O. Stevens (RTD)

Other

Mission #3 B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 CREW P MAJ Richard D. Callaway (RTD): CP 1LT Louis M. Schulstad (RTD) N 1LT John H. Embach (RTD); B 1LT Reinaldo Saiz (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Antone Pacheco (RTD): RO SSGT Charles L Roth (RTD) BTG SGT Peter Soria (RTD); LWG SGT Jerry W. Dobbins (RTD) RWG SSGT John H. Sherman (RTD): TG SSGT Wayne O. Stevens (RTD)

Other

Mission #4 B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 30 December 1942 CREW P 1LT Louis M. Schulstad (RTD): CP 2LT Roy W. Christianson (RTD) N 2LT John H. Embach (RTD); B 2LT Earle J. DuMont, Jr. (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Antone Pacheco (RTD); RO SSGT Charles L. Roth (RTD) BTG SGT Peter Soria (RTD): LWG SGT Jerry W. Dobbins (RTD) RWG SSGT John H. Sherman (RTD): TG SSGT Wayne O. Stevens (RTD)

Other

Mission #6 B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS

13 January 1943 CREW P LTC Charles E. Marion (RTD): CP 2LT Roy W. Christianson (RTD) N 1LT Samuel H. Anderson (RTD); CMN CPT Paul G. Moore (RTD) B 1LT Albert W. Dieffenbach (RTD); E/TTG TSGT Antone Pacheco (RTD) RO SSGT Charles L. Roth (RTD); BTG SGT Peter Soria LWG SGT Jerry W. Dobbins (RTD); RWG SSGT John H. Sherman (RTD) TG SSGT Wayne O. Stevens (RTD)

Other

Mission #7 B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 CREW P 1LT Joseph E. Haas (KIA); CP 2LT Roy W. Christianson (KIA) N 2LT John H. Embach (POW); B 2LT Ewel R. McCright (POW) E/TTG TSGT Antone Pacheco (KIA); RO SSGT Charles R. Roth (POW) BTG SGT Peter Soria (KIA); LWG SGT Jerry W. Dobbins (KIA) RWG SSGT John H. Sherman (KIA); TG SGT Wayne O. Stevens (KIA)

Other

Mission #5 B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 3 January 2043 CREW P 1LT Louis M. Sshulstad (RTD); CP 2LT Roy W. Christianson (RTD) N 2LT John H. Embach (RTD): B 1LT Reinaldo Saiz (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Anotne Pacheco (RTD): RO SSGT CHarles L. Roth (RTD) BTG SGT Peter Soria (RTD): LWG SGT Jerry W. Dobbins (RTD) RWG SGT Joseph S. Klasnick (RTD); TG SSGT Wayne O. Stevens (RTD)

Revisions

Date20 Aug 2015 22:32:05
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Aug-2015. Added Mission #6 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of1 3-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date20 Aug 2015 22:23:41
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Aug-2015. Added Mission #5 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 3-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf

Date20 Aug 2015 22:16:44
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Aug-2015. Added Mission #4 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 30-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf

Date20 Aug 2015 22:08:00
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Aug-2015. Added Mission #3 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 20-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf

Date20 Aug 2015 21:58:07
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Aug-2015. Added Mission #2 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 6-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date20 Aug 2015 21:48:02
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Aug-2015. Added Mission #1 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf

Date20 Aug 2015 21:37:05
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Aug-2015. Added Mission #7 event crew details per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date20 Aug 2015 21:33:08
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Aug-2015. Added Operations participation per 303BG website Mission Reports, Gary Moncur, HIstorian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missions.html. Added Arrived at Station per "The B-17 Flying Fortress Stroy", Roger A. Freeman with David Osborne.

Date20 Jan 2015 21:51:05
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-2015. Added FTR event per MACR 15571.

Date20 Jan 2015 21:01:53
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-2015. Added nickname and added target and loss details to description per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; made connections to Place and Mission within existing website data; Added crew position, rank, full proper name and disposition per MACR 15571.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:03
ContributorAAM
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15571 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

41-24567: Gallery (2 items)

Sergeant Charles L. Roth, a ground crewman of the 303rd Bomb Group, fixes the nose turret gun of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24567) nicknamed "Beats Me!?'. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238765.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'HE WANTS A STEAK IN CHICAGO. 20-year-old Sgt Charles L. Roth, of 6533 Meneriva Avenue, has an army job which suits him down to the ground - or up in the air. In c

Object number: FRE 1004 - Sergeant Charles L. Roth, Radio Operator (303rd...

Sergeant Peter Soria of the 303rd Bomb Group swings the propellor of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24567) nicknamed "Beats Me!?". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 16 Dec 1942. [stamp] and ‘238766.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Naturally most U.S. boys in Britain wish they were back home and Sergt. Peter Soria of the U.S. Air Corps is no exception. He sends a message to that effect to his home at 172 and Hoyne Aven

Object number: FRE 1063 - Sergeant Peter Soria of the 303rd Bomb Group...