41-24578 Problem Child : Old Reliable

A 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (XK-R, serial number 41-24578) taxiis to take off from Chelveston airbase. Passed for publication 30 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124578, XK:R.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Fortress Station In Britain. From an American base in Britain the Flying Fortresses carry out operational activities which result in terrible blows against the German industrial war machine. This series of pictures shows scenes at a Flying Fortresses stati media-458169.jpg FRE 10434 A 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (XK-R, serial number 41-24578) taxiis to take off from Chelveston airbase. Passed for publication 30 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124578, XK:R.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Fortress Station In Britain. From an American base in Britain the Flying Fortresses carry out operational activities which result in terrible blows against the German industrial war machine. This series of pictures shows scenes at a Flying Fortresses station where hige[sic] bombers take off for the raids or return from their missions to be serviced by the ground crews, ready for the next raid. Keystone Photo Shows:- Flying Fortresses taking off for a mission. U.S.Pool/SS/F. Keystone. 1-13.' Censor no: 272234. On reverse: Keystone 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 10434 - A 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (XK-R, serial number 41-24578) taxiis to take off from Chelveston airbase. Passed for...

Assigned 3675BS/305BG [XK-R/F] Presque Is 19/10/42; Grafton Underwood 25/10/42; transferred 547BS/384BG [SO-U] Grafton Underwood 7/10/43; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 15/3/44; Returned to the USA Amarillo 21/5/44 (?10/4/44?); Written off 28/11/44. Ref: PROBLEM CHILD). OLD RELIABLE.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
  • Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Air base

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16006483
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
eleven men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane.  Six men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.  Some of the men are wearing cold-weather flying gear.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33264020
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane. Five men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.  Some of the men are  wearing  cold weather flying gear.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0–672341
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17054699 / O-684354
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19080173
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Places

Aerial photograph of Burtonwood airfield, 10 August 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/622. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Base Air Depot Area (BADA) : 1st Base Air Depot (1 BAD)

Events

Event Location Date Description

Assigned

Presque Isle, ME, USA 19 October 1942 - 25 October 1943 305th Bomb Group, 367th Bomb Squadron

Transferred

Grafton Underwood, Kettering, Englaand, UK 25 October 1942 - 7 October 1943 Moved to England.  305th Bomb Group, 367th Bomb Squadron

Assigned

Grafton Underwood, Kettering, England, UK 7 October 1943 - 15 March 1944 384th Bomb Group, 547th Bomb Squadron

Transferred

Burtonwood, England, UK 15 March 1944 - 21 May 1944 Base Air Depot (BAD) 1

Transferred

Amerillo, Texas, USA 21 May 1944 - 28 November 1944 Returned to USA 

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

41-24578: Gallery (1 items)