41-9103 Dixie Demo

A formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group fly B-17 (serial number 41-9103) nicknamed "Dixie Demo", at Bassingbourn following a raid on Antwerp, 6 April 1943. A censor has obscured a hanger in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and Passed U.S Army 6 APR 1943 Press Censor No 21 E.T.O U.S.A.' [stamp]. 'Passed for publication 6 APR 1943 INTLD 29 Central Section Press Censorship Bureau' [stamp]. 'Copyright Planet News ?, Johnson's Court, London E.C.4' [stamp].'256834'[Censor media-379128.jpg FRE 691 B-17E serial number 41-9103 of the 91st Bomb Group. Note RAF style camouflage, characteristic of many B-17Es in the 8th AF). This aircraft had previously served with the 97th Bomb Group from 11 April 1942, it then transferred to the 92nd Bomb Group when the 9th departed for the Mediterranean Theatre in August 1942, before joining the 91st Bomb Group in March 1943. Roger Freeman Collection

Corrected unit in caption and updated unit information found in Osborne, Fortlog.

Object Number - FRE 691 - B-17E serial number 41-9103 of the 91st Bomb Group. Note RAF style camouflage, characteristic of many B-17Es in the 8th AF). This aircraft had...

Assigned 414BS/97BG Polebrook 11/4/42; with Lt. Clarence L. Thacker on first 8AF mission 17/8/42; transferred 92BG Bovingdon 24/8/42; 91BG Bassingbourn 3/3/43; 385BG Gt Ashfield 8/43 as target tow & hack; Returned to the USA 23/6/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 19/12/45. DIXIE DEMO.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.

385th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.

92nd Bomb Group

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

People

Ewart Theodore Sconiers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-724720
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane. Four men standing to the rear and five men sitting in front on top of large canvas bags. The men are wearing cold-weather flying gear

Clarence Lewis Thacker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-436544
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot 97th / 414th Squadron/ Transferred as Commander of 384th / 547th Unit /41st Bomb Wing Heavy Group B and Group C1945

Places

Missions

Revisions

Date
Contributormjw1__
Changes
Sources

Martin Rose - Facebook

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Oct-2014 "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

41-9103: Gallery (3 items)

A formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group fly B-17 (serial number 41-9103) nicknamed "Dixie Demo", at Bassingbourn following a raid on Antwerp, 6 April 1943. A censor has obscured a hanger in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and Passed U.S Army 6 APR 1943 Press Censor No 21 E.T.O U.S.A.' [stamp]. 'Passed for publication 6 APR 1943 INTLD 29 Central Section Press Censorship Bureau' [stamp]. 'Copyright Planet News ?, Johnson's Court, London E.C.4' [stamp].'256834'[Censor

Object number: FRE 691 - B-17E serial number 41-9103 of the 91st Bomb Group...

Object number: UPL 17447 - Official USAAF caption : "Crew of the Boeing...

Grafton Underwood

Object number: UPL 60650 - Grafton Underwood - B-17E's Flying Fortress,...