41-24603 The Green Hornet

Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Green Hornet". Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Ground crew of "The Green Hornet". Left to right, Cpl. William E. Bowers, Route 1, Elkhart, Ind.; M/Sgt. Joseph R. Dufresne, 30 Lathrop Street, South Hadley Falls, Mass.; M/Sgt. Fletcher Hecton, 518 Twentyfirst Street, Denver, Col.; Sgt. Richard Borgl media-407575.jpg FRE 4195 Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Green Hornet". Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Ground crew of "The Green Hornet". Left to right, Cpl. William E. Bowers, Route 1, Elkhart, Ind.; M/Sgt. Joseph R. Dufresne, 30 Lathrop Street, South Hadley Falls, Mass.; M/Sgt. Fletcher Hecton, 518 Twentyfirst Street, Denver, Col.; Sgt. Richard Borglan, Sturtevant, Wis.; Cpl. Everett Wise, Carnegie, Okla. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Associated Freeman Collection image from caption information William E. Bowers.

Object Number - FRE 4195 - Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Green Hornet". Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed...

B-17F #41-24603 "Green Hornet" [BN-Y], 303BG/359BS was assigned with a combat crew on 10-Sep-42 at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas then moved to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine 9-Oct-42; Arrived at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42.

Missing in Action 23-Jan-43 while on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. Three engines were knocked out by flak over the target and then it was shot down by FW-190 fighters. All the crew bailed out but the Pilot and Co-Pilot stayed with the aircraft because they only had one usable parachute between them and made a crash landing at Kergolay near Motreff, France The Tail Gunner, SSgt Joseph L. Markiewicz had been wounded but managed to bail out and was captured, but he died of his wounds on 12-Feb-43. (5 POW, 1 POW - DIC, 4 EVD). No MACR issued.

The aircraft participated in 9 Operations (3 were aborted). See Biography events for crew infomration.

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

Ralph Boyd Adams

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13035538
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Horace D Bowman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-661439
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Sidney Devers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13028342
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner

Warren H Gerow

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12018045
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Frank W Greene

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36306227
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner, GC

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Assigned with Combat Crew

Biggs Field, TX 79918, USA 10 September 1942 Assigned with combat crew on 10-Sep-42, Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. Original Crew P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson; CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. N 2LT John W. Spence; B 2LT John W. Plummer E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers; RO TSGT Miles B. Jones BTG SSGT Frank W. Greene; LWG Not Assigned RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson; TG SGT Joseph L. Markiewicz

Other

Transfer for Deployment

Bangor, ME, USA 9 October 1942 - 21 October 1942 Transferred to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine in preparation for deployment to the UK. Crew aboard:

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 22 October 1942 Arrived at Molesworth, UK with the following crew: P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson; CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. N 2LT John W. Spence; B 2LT John W. Plummer E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers; RO TSGT Miles B. Jones BTG SSGT Frank W. Greene; LWG Not Assigned RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson; TG SGT Joseph L. Markiewicz

Other

Mission #1, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942 CREW B-17F 41-24603, "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman (RTD) N 2LT John W. Spence (RTB); B 2LT John W. Plummer (RTB) E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers (RTB); RO TSGT Miles B. Jones (RTB) BTG SSGT Frank W. Greene (RTB); LWG SGT Carlos J. Silva (RTB) RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson (RTB); TG SSGT Joseph L. Markiewicz (RTB)

Other

Mission #2, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942 CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) N 2LT John W. Spence (RTB); B 2LT Grady B. Ward (RTB) E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers (RTB); RO TSGT Miles B. Jones (RTB) BTG SSGT Frank W. Greene (RTB); LWG SGT Carlos J. Silva (RTB) RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson (RTB); TG SSGT Joseph L. Markiewicz (RTB)

Other

Mission #3, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Lille, France 6 December 1942 CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. CMP MAJ Eugene A. Romig (RTB); CP 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB) N 2LT John W. Spence (RTB); B 2LT Grady B. Ward (RTB) E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers (RTB); RO TSGT Miles B. Jones (RTB) BTG SSGT Frank W. Greene (RTB); LWG SGT Carlos J. Silva (RTB) RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson (RTB); TG SSGT Joseph L. Markiewicz (RTB)

Other

Mission #4, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Rouen, France 12 December 1942 CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) N 2LT John W. Spence (RTB); B 2LT Grady B. Ward (RTB) E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers (RTB); RO TSGT Miles B. Jones (RTB) BTG SSGT Frank W. Greene (RTB); LWG SGT Carlos J. Silva (RTB) RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson (RTB); TG SSGT Joseph L. Markiewicz (RTB)

Other

Mission #5, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) N 2LT John W. Spence (RTB); B 2LT Grady B. Ward (RTB) E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers (RTB); RO TSGT Miles B. Jones (RTB) BTG SSGT Frank W. Greene (RTB); LWG SGT Carlos J. Silva (RTB) RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson (RTB); TG SSGT Joseph L. Markiewicz (RTB)

Other

Mission #6, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS

Lorient, France 30 December 1942 CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) N 2LT John W. Spence (RTB); B 2LT Grady B. Ward (RTB) E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers (RTB); RO TSGT Miles B. Jones (RTB) BTG SSGT Frank W. Greene (RTB); LWG SGT Carlos J. Silva (RTB) RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson (RTB); TG SGT Warren H. Gerow (RTB)

Other

Mission #7, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 3 January 1943 CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) N 2LT John W. Spence (RTB); B 2LT Grady B. Ward (RTB) E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers (RTB); RO TSGT Miles B. Jones (RTB) BTG SGT Carlos J. Silva (RTB); LWG TSGT Joseph G. Marcelonis (RTB) RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson (RTB); TG SGT Warren H. Gerow (RTB)

Other

Mission #8, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) N 2LT John W. Spence (RTB); B 2LT Grady B. Ward (RTB) E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers (RTB); RO TSGT Miles B. Jones (RTB) BTG SGT Carlos J. Silva (RTB); LWG SGT Ralph B. Adams (RTB) RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson (RTB); TG SSGT Joseph L. Markiewicz (RTB)

Other

Mission #9, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - MIA

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. Last Operation P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (WIA/POW); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (POW) N 2LT John W. Spence (EVD); B 2LT Grady B. Ward (POW) E/TTG TSGT Sidney Devers (EVD); RO TSGT Miles B. Jones (RTB) BTG SSGT Frank W. Greene (EVD); LWG SGT Carlos J. Silva (POW) RWG SSGT Harry F. Swanson (POW); TG SSGT Joseph L. Markiewicz (POW/DIC)

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to production block number and unit associations
Sources

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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Corrected typos in the "Description" section.

Date
ContributorMarkie53
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Corrected typo "bale" to "bail" on Mission #11 report

Date
ContributorMarkie53
ChangesChanges to markings
Sources

Corrected radio call sign from "Y" to "V".

Date
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to nicknames
Sources

Corrected nickname by adding the word "The".

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to media associations
Sources

Roger Freeman Photo.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #9 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #8 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of1 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #7 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to description and events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Ellis J. Sanderson crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-sanderson.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Transfer for Deployment event per "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story", Roger A, Freeman with David Osborne B-17F 41-24603 History Summary.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to description and events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Asssigned with Combat Crew evenr per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Ellis J. Sanderson crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-sanderson.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to description and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Initial crw assigment and mission participation statement to Summary Biography; made connections to all mission participations per my research of 303BG Mission Reports, 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to nicknames, markings, description, unit associations, place associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-2015. Added nickname , markings, FTR event, and description details per 'Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. Added crew position, rank, full proper name, and dispositions per 303rd Bomb Group website data, historian Gary Moncur, formatted crew display.

Date
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

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

41-24603: Gallery (16 items)