41-24639 Careful Virgin

Object Number - UPL 19609 - Boeing B-17F-27-BO Flying Fortress 'The Careful Virgin' 41-24639 code OR-W of the 91st bomb group 323rd BS.
Delivered Cheyenne 9/9/42; Boise 16/9/42; wrecked on landing with broken crankshaft, rep; Cheyenne 11/10/42; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-W] Bassingbourn 29/1/43 and first in group to have AFCE fitted at 2 SAD Lt Staughton 8/3/44; transferred 7/5/44 50+m AFSC for Aphrodite operations, Azon radio guided [Mothership B-24 44-40277] operation against V-1 site at Mimoyecques with Lt Cornelius A Engel & T/Sgt Clifford A Parsons of 385BG 4/8/44, but exploded before reaching target. Control crew had baled out over UK. THE CAREFUL VIRGIN.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Depot
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Maintenance

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Colonel Neal Creighton, General H.H. Arnold, Major General Henry J.F. Miller, and General Ira C. Eaker. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 3 Sept 1943.' [stamp], '34579.' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US ARMY AIR FORCES OFFICIAL PHOTO. From left to right: Colonel Nel Creighton, of Chapel Hill, NC, Post Commander of Camp Griffiss, General H H Arnold, Major General Henry JF Miller, Commanding General of VIII Air Force Service Command, and General Ira C Eaker, commanding General of](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-456672.jpg?itok=wo2aP9ld)
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Mechanic and Instrument Specialist

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 16079469 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ground Crew; Mechanic
Places

- Site type: Military site

- Site type: Airfield

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Winfarthing
Missions

- Date: 4 August 1944
Aircraft

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Shamrock Special
- Unit: VIII Air Force Service Command 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Miss Used
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
Boise, ID, USA | 16 September 1942 | wrecked on landing with broken crankshaft, repaired. Boise 16/9/42. |
Other AFCE fitted |
Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 8 March 1944 | First in 91st BG to have Automatic Flight Control Equipment fitted at 2 SAD Lt Staughton 8/3/44. |
Crashed |
Mimoyecques, 62250, France | 4 August 1944 | Aphrodite operation against V-1 site at Mimoyecques with Lt Cornelius A Engel & T/Sgt Clifford A Parsons of 385BG 4/8/44, but exploded before reaching target. Control crew had baled out over UK. |
Crashed |
Bassingbourn, Royston, Cambridgeshire SG8, UK | On return from sortie, with combat damage and no braking, in collision with B-17 42-29591 causing rear fuselage of '591' to be written off. |
Revisions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Aphrodite
Liberator: The Consolidated B-24 By Graham Simons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Aphrodite
Liberator: The Consolidated B-24 By Graham Simons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Aphrodite
Liberator: The Consolidated B-24 By Graham Simons