41-9026 Baby Doll

The B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9026) nicknamed "Baby Doll" of the 92nd Bomb Group takes off. Passed for publication 5 Sep 1942. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Training American Bomber Crews In England, Sept. 1942. Preparing for the day when the might of the American and British Air Forces will strike together against the heart of Germany are many U.S. Army Air Corps bomber crews with their giant Flying Fortresses. They are completing their training over here at airfields which the Ameri

Object Number - FRE 3710 - The B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9026) nicknamed "Baby Doll" of the 92nd Bomb Group takes off. Passed for publication 5 Sep 1942. Printed...

Boeing B-17E
41-9026
Baby Doll

Polebook, England (342BS/97BG) – March 1942
Bovingdon, England (327/92BG) – 24 August 1942
Missing In Action – 6 September 1942

Shot down by Overfeldwebel Wilhelm Roth (4/JG26) over the English Channel.
No survivors.

Part of strike force on VIII Bomber Command Mission 1 (17 August 1942).
One of the first two 8AF Boeing B-17s to be lost in combat (6 September 1942).

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A formation of Flying Fortresses on their way to attack targets near the Anzio beachhead. Nearest the camera is a 342nd Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30056) that was declared Missing In Action on the 2nd of July 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '230056, MIA 2/7/44, 342BS, 97BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'PNA. IA 18239. Forts Bound For Anzio. A flight of Flying Fortresses, carrying fragmentation bombs, gather in formation for a flight to the Anzio beachhead,

342nd Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

William J Angliss

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36171665
  • Highest Rank: Private First Class
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Robert I Benedict

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-442761
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Frank J Buck

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-724194
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner

LeMoyne G Earley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19011638
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Cecil R Kendrick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14037422
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner

Places

Missions

VIII Bomber Command 10

  • Date: 6 September 1942
  • Official Description: 30 B-17’s strike Avions Potez aircraft plant at Meaulte, while a smaller force bombs 2 A/Fs near Saint Omer. 12 DB-7’s attack Abbeville/Drucat A/F. 2 B-17’s are shot down over Meaulte by ftrs, marking VIII BC’s first loss of aircraft in combat.
A bomber crew of the 97th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. They are from left to right: Lieutenant Frank R. Beadle, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Sergeant Chester Love, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Sergeant Richard Williams, of Utica, New York; Lieutenant Levon Ray, of Poolville Texas; Glen V. Leland, of St. Petersburg, Florida; Sergeant Frank Rebello, Tiverton, Rhode Island; Sergeant Joseph Cummings, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Sergeant Zane Gemmill, of St. Clair, Pennsylvania. Image stamped on reverse: 'Pas

VIII Bomber Command 1

  • Date: 17 August 1942
  • Official Description: 12 B-17’s of 97th Bomb Group, escorted by Spitfires, launch first Army Air Force Heavy Bomber attack from UK against Western Europe. Target is Rouen-Sotteville Marshalling Yard. Sergeant Kent R West shoots down German fighter, thus becoming the first...

Revisions

Date18 Sep 2017 20:18:15
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

Roger Freeman Photo.

Date29 May 2017 11:19:15
ContributorGBlume
Sources

www.gblume.com

Date15 Nov 2014 18:10:53
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Nov-2014. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 16489; Mission description based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.; Formatted description; added crash event location etc.

Date20 Oct 2014 21:10:34
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Oct-2014 Missing AIr Crew Report (MACR) 16489.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:06
ContributorAAM
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 16489 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

41-9026: Gallery (2 items)

The B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9026) nicknamed "Baby Doll" of the 92nd Bomb Group takes off. Passed for publication 5 Sep 1942. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Training American Bomber Crews In England, Sept. 1942. Preparing for the day when the might of the American and British Air Forces will strike together against the heart of Germany are many U.S. Army Air Corps bomber crews with their giant Flying Fortresses. They are completing their training over here at airfields which the Ameri

Object number: FRE 3710 - The B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9026)...

The nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Baby Doll" of the 97th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'United States Air Force In Britain. The nose of a Flying Fortress bomber. The bomb-aimers position is in the "mouth" of the strange face of the aircraft.' On reverse: Charles E. Brown; US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 4051 - The nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Baby...