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.

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

Jack Antman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-741825
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

John L Beringer

  • 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

Ray Eugene Brewer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36449559
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist gunner

Richard Carlton Browning

  • 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).

Burtonwood

  • 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
Sources

Missions added, please see both-
http://www.303rdbg.com/pp-kd-50th.html
and
http://www.303rdbg.com/missions.html

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)

First Lieutenant John P. Manning, a pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group, watches Sergeant Stanley Jacobs paint mission markings onto his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24605) nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper". Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 17 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '293243.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. BOMBERS RAID NORWAY IN 77 DEGREES OF FROST AND "KNOCK-OUT DROPPER" WINS THE MARATHON: Fortresses and Liberators of the U.S.A.A.F. flew

Object number: FRE 1093 - First Lieutenant John P. Manning, a pilot of the...

A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group return to base following their 50th mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24605) nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper". Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 17 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '293244.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. BOMBERS RAID NORWAY IN 77 DEGREES OF FROST AND "KNOCK-OUT DROPPER" WINS THE MARATHON." Fortresses and Liberators of the U.S.A.A.F. flew 500 miles to bomb the molybdenum mines

Object number: FRE 1094 - A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group return to...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (41-24605) nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper" of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group takes off. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 13 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '292797.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"Knock-out Dropper" holds the lead in Flying Fortress bombing marathon. Photo shows:- The Flying Fortress "Knock-out Dropper" taking off from an airfield "somewhere in England". Gai. Noverber 13th 1943 PN. ' Handwritten on rever

Object number: FRE 1102 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (41-24605) nicknamed "Knock...

Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group wave at a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper" before take off. On reverse: Planet News Ltd [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 4219 - Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group wave at a B-17...

Ground crew of the 303rd Bomb Group inspect a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper", whilst a formation of Fortresses fly overhead. On reverse: Planet News Ltd [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 4234 - Ground crew of the 303rd Bomb Group inspect a B-17...

A formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses fly over a B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-R) nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper" of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 13 Nov 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '"Knock-Out Dropper" Holds The Lead In Flying Fortress Bombing Marathon. Photo Shows:- Flying Fortresses coming in to land over the record-making "Knock-Out Dropper", which is taxiing to the dispersal point. Gai. November 13th 1943. PN.' On reverse: Planet News Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO a

Object number: FRE 4240 - A formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses fly over a B...

A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper" of the 303rd Bomb Group, signed by personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '1945.'

Object number: FRE 4259 - A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Knock-Out...

Hollywood Actor Clark Gable, of the 351st Bomb Group filming a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24605) nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper" of the 303rd Bomb Group whilst directing a film combat gunnery at Molesworth. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Gable, Molesworth. 4/5/43.'

Object number: FRE 9874 - Hollywood Actor Clark Gable, of the 351st Bomb...

A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group shake hands by the nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24605) nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper". Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Planet News.' [stamp]

Object number: FRE 998 - A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group shake hands...

Object number: UPL 16711 - DONALD W. STOULIL CREW - 359th BS B-17F Knockout...

Object number: UPL 40127 - Factory fresh B-17F Flying Fortesses, USA 1942.