41-24606 Werewolf
![B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (VK-H, serial number 41-24606) nicknamed "Werewolf", of the 303rd Bomb Group. On reverse: US Army Examiner [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/freeman/media-407638.jpg)
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 4250 - B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (VK-H, serial number 41-24606) nicknamed "Werewolf", of the 303rd Bomb Group. On reverse: US Army Examiner [Stamp].
B-17F-27-BO 41-24606 "Werewolf" was assigned 358BG/303BG [VK-H] Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan on 14-Sep-42; Arrived at Molesworth, UK 16-Oct-42. 23-Jan-43 despatched on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. The aircraft sustained damage from flak over the target. The pilot, 1LT George J. Oxrider ordered his crew of nine to bail out over the south coast of England after limping home with only one engine operating. He landed "Werewolf" on the grounds of a mental hospital at Dawlish. It was originally thought to be beyond repair. The VIII Service command later decided to repair the B-17 and fly it out. They changed three engines, and cleared trees, walls, and hedges to made a 2,500 foot runway. The take-off was successful and it was flown to Honington Air Depot for further major repairs. On 22 April 43, after repairs were completed, it was transferred to 91BG/401BS where it remained for two months. There were no bailout or mission injuries. Participated in 4 Operations 17-Nov-42 Mission #1 U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. (see Biography) Salvaged 23-Jan-43 and repaired at Honington AD then transferred 401BS/91BG [LL-G] Bassingbourn 22-Apr-43; no missions 3 AAD Langford Lodge 11-Jun-43; 2 SAD Lt Staughton 14-Jun-43; CCRC Bovingdon; Salvaged NBD 18-Jun-45. WEREWOLF.
30-Dec-42 Mission #2 U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. (see Biography)
3-Jan-43 Mission #3 Torpedo Storage Areas at St. Nazaire, France. (see Biography)
23-Jan-43 Mission #4 LAST OPERATION U-Boat pens at Lorient, France and Brest, France. (CL)
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: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13031181
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37102509
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15062555
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31029540
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18002084
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
Missions

- Date: 23 January 1943
- Date: 3 January 1943
- Date: 30 December 1942
- Official Description:
- Date: 17 November 1942
- Official Description:
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Mission #1 B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 | CREW B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS P 2LT George J. Oxrider (RTD); CP 2LT Donald W. Hurlburt (RTD) N 2LT Donald L. Grant (RTD); B 2LT Thomas R. Thomas (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Frederick B. Zeimer (RTD); RO SSGT Everett A. Dasher (RTD) BTG SGT Clifton R. Fincher (RTD); LWG SGT George F. Hall (RTD) RWG SGT Samuel P. Maxwell (RTD): TG SGT James K. Sadler (RTD) |
Other Mission #2 B-17F 42-24606, 303BG/358BS |
Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 | CREW B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS P 1LT George J. Oxrider (RTD); CP 2LT Donald W. Hurlburt (RTD) N 2LT Donald L. Grant (RTD); B 2LT Earl A. Steele (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Frederick B. Ziemer (RTD); RO SSGT Everett A. Dasher (RTD) BTG SGT Arthur Brunnet (RTD): LWG SGT Theodore C. Heaps (RTD) RWG SGT Samuel P. Maxwell (RTD); TG SSGT James K. Sadler. |
Other Mission #4 B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS (CL) |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | CREW B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS P 2LT George J. Oxrider (CL RTD); CP 2LT Donald W. Hurlburt (BO RTD) N 2LT Donald L. Grant (BO RTD); B 2LT Earl A. Steele (BO RTD) E/TTG TSGT Frederick B. Zeimer (BO RTD); RO SSGT Everett A. Dasher (BO RTD) BTG SGT Robert C. Smith (BO RTD); LWG SGT Theodore C. Heaps (BO RTD) RWG SGT Samuel P. Maxwell (BO RTD): TG SGT James K. Sadler (BO RTD) |
Other Crash Landing w/Battle Damage |
Dawlish, Devon, UK | 23 January 1943 | Aircraft sustained battle damage on mission to Lorient, France. limped home on one engine. All crew baled out except pilot who crash landed the aircaft at Dawlish, UK. |
Other Transferred |
Bassingbourn, Royston, Cambridgeshire SG8, UK | 22 April 1943 - 11 June 1943 | Transferred to 91BG/401BS at Bassingbourn, UK. Did not fly any missions with the 91BG. Sent to 3rd Air Depot at Langford Lodge, UK 11-Jun-43. |
Other Transferred |
Langford Lodge, 109 Pembroke Road, Bristol, City of Bristol BS8 3EU, UK | 11 June 1943 - 14 June 1943 | Transferred to 3rd Air Depot at Langford Lodge, UK on 11-Jun-43 then sent to 2nd Strategic Arms Depot at Alconbury, UK on 14-Jun-43. |
Other Transferred |
Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 14 June 1943 - 1 July 1943 | Transferred to 2nd Strategic Arms Depot at Alconbury, UK on 14-Jun-43 then posted to 92BG at the Combat Crew Replacement Center, Alconbury on 1-Jul-43. |
Other 92BG CCRC |
Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 1 July 1943 - 18 July 1945 | Served at the Combat Crew Replacment Center at Alconbury, UK and used in training until it was sold for scrap on 18-Jun-45 |
Other Sold for Scrap |
Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 18 June 1945 | Sold for Scrap in England at Alconbury on 18-Jun-1945. |
Other Mission #3 B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 2043 | CREW B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS P 1LT Robert J. Nolan (RTD); CP 2LT Richard L. Kruse (RTD) N 2LT Donald L. Grant (RTD); B 2LT Richard R. Hopper (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Roy J. Hively (RTD); RO SSGT Milton Hamill (RTD) BTG SGT Jesse R. Kinney (RTD); LWG SGT James P. Goff (RTD) RWG SGT Jack Lucas (RTD); TG SGT Edward L. DeMuth (RTD) |
Revisions
Lee Cunninghjam 10-Mar-2016. Added headers to crew displays for missions 1-4.
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Changed initial assignment to Kellog Field per 303BG website records, Gary Moncur, Historian. http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 10-Aug-2015. Added transfer and Salvage events pr "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story", Roger A. Freement with David Osborne.
Lee Cunningham 10-Aug-2015. Added Mission #4 event crw data per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian:http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Aug-2015. Added Mission #3 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 3-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Aug-2015. Corrected date on Mission #3
Lee Cunningham 10-Aug-2015 Added Mission #3 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 30-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Aug-2015. Added Mission #2 event crew data per 303BG webiste Mission Reoprt of 30-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Aug-43. Added Block Number, Manufacturer, Markings per 303BG website; http://www.303rdbg.com;
Made connections to Units & Missions added Mission #1 to Description and Mission #1 event crew details per 303BG website Mission Report of 17-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf