41-24605 Knock-out Dropper

Object Number - UPL 28378

Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Searcy Field 19-Jul-45.

The aircraft was sold, in Stillwater, to an oil company and put up on pylons in downtown Oklahoma City and used as part of a gas station. Once the novelty wore off and the downtown development started, the aircraft was bulldozed and buried. The remains of the aircraft are now under a large building constructed in the late 1940s, early 50s in Oklahoma City.

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

People

  • 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
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-741825
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39168651
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36449559
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-726994
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

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)

Missions

Revisions

Date19 May 2022 11:39:20
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to unit associations
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

Date22 Apr 2020 11:00:46
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

NB: previous source message should read Dennis Beringer, relative of John Beringer

Date22 Apr 2020 10:57:47
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to markings, description and person associations
Sources

http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-roller.html

Information provided by Martin Beringer, son of John Beringer

Date6 Sep 2019 15:01:19
ContributorDr Daniel
ChangesChanges to person associations
Sources

Additional crew members associated with this plane added-
http://www.303rdbg.com/pp-kd-50th.html

Date6 Sep 2019 14:50:15
ContributorDr Daniel
ChangesChanges to mission associations
Date14 Sep 2017 19:24:20
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to media associations
Sources

Roger Freeman Photo.

Date19 Dec 2015 23:50:59
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, description, unit associations and place associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Dec-2015. Added nickname, converted dates to military-style signification; made connection to Unit and Place per 303BG records, Gary Moncur, Historian http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:03
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

41-24605: Gallery (16 items)