41-24575 Sunrise Serenader

Back row: S/Sgt Homer F Vinning (tail gunner), 2/Lt Jack W Bennet (bombardier), 2/Lt Arthur D Reitz (navigator), 2/Lt Wilbur D Greenwalt (co-pilot) and 1/Lt Dale Shaffer (pilot).
Front row: Sgt Louis P. Berring (waist gunner), Pvt Thomas H Lawler (radio operator), S/Sgt William F Clendenen (ball turret gunner), S/Sgt Herbert W Armstrong (waist gunner) and T/Sgt Alan G Nates (engineer).
See previous message. Berring was a Sgt.
Object Number - UPL 27725 - First Lieutenant Dale Shaffer's crew of the 365th Bomb Squadron of the 305th Bomb Group, 23 November 1942. They are in front of B-17 41-24575. Most...
Assigned 365BS/305BG [XK-S] Presque Is 19/10/42; Grafton Underwood 25/10/42; transferred 544BS/384BG [SU-J] Grafton Underwood 19/9/43; detailed Bremen 13/11/43 but recalled with Ralph Connell, Co-pilot: Albt Doman, Navigator: Larry Angthius, Bombardier: Claud Gober, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harvey Wick, Ball turret gunner: Ellsworth Calder, Waist gunner: Ken Barr, Waist gunner: Bill McCully, Tail gunner: Bob Bryant (9 Killed in Action); Radio Operator: Alan Purdy (Returned to Duty). crashed RAF Wargrave, Berks., UK. SUNRISE SERENADER.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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

- 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: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-747074
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner, Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner, Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places

- Site type: Memorial
- Known as: 305th Bomb Group Memorial

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is
Missions
- Date: 13 November 1943

- Date: 5 November 1943
![An Illustration of the Wilhelmshaven raid, 3 November 1943. Image stamped on reverse: '10 Nov 1943.' [stamp], '292478.'[Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'THE BIGGEST EVER DAY RAID: By US Fortresses and Liberators on Wilhelmshaven- escorted all the way by fighters. Special Sphere drawings. THE SCENE OVER WILHELMSHAVEN JUST AS OUT BOMBERS WERE LEAVING THE TARGET ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMVER 3RD. AFTER THE BIGGEST DAYLIGHT RAID EVER CARRIED OUT OVER GERMANY. IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND OF THIS DRAWING, LIGHTNING](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x1/public/freeman/media-418517.jpg.webp?itok=YzMdGRNF)
- Date: 3 November 1943

- Date: 8 October 1943

- Date: 4 July 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
Wargrave, Reading RG10, UK | 13 November 1943 |
Revisions
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
MISSION LOGS
AAIR 43-11-13-500 / Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database