42-102394 Down N Go

media-33997.jpeg UPL 33997 Possible nose art or logo from Down n' Go. I had the impression that the term "down n go" referred to the landing gear being down and that the aircraft was doing a touch n go. Because of the cards it might be a reference to getting a down card in 21/blackjack.

Thanks to Andy Swinny.

Object Number - UPL 33997 - Possible nose art or logo from Down n' Go. I had the impression that the term "down n go" referred to the landing gear being down and that the...

Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Kearney 15/3/44; Dow Fd 4/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-C] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 24/8/44 with Parker Finney, Co-pilot: Virgil Price, Navigator: Dale Scott, tog-Brown Bralley, Waist gunner: Burton Miller,Tail gunner: Bill Duling (6 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Woodrow Snyder, Radio Operator: Ed Smith, Ball turret gunner: Golden Hill (3 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft damaged ship before exploding, crashed Brockhofe, NE of Fassberg Afd, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 8202. DOWN 'N GO.

From pilot's (Parker Finney) records: "On August 24, 1944, I was about ten minutes from the I.P. when we were jumped by 32 Fock-Wulfe fighters. They attacked from the rear in groups of three and damaged us heavily in mid-ship. My tail gunner, Sgt Duling, did advise me later on the ground that he had destroyed at least one of the Fock-Wulfes that blew up as it was approaching his tail. This was later confirmed for me by a fellow member of the 614th Bomb Squadron who was shot down months later and advised me that he had watched me go down and had seen the destruction of the one aircraft."

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Enlisted, waist gunner; Nose Gunner, Togglier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-817187
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32170030
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly through flak during a mission over Merseburg. Photographed from a B-17. Official caption on image: "5-381/80. (11-9-44)(A/C 8158 3/8 - 27500)(Merseburg)."
  • Site type: Other
  • Known as: Merseberg (common wrong spelling), Leuna

Missions

  • Date: 24 August 1944
  • Date: 13 August 1944
Ten men in Air Force combat flying gear  posed in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear and four men kneeling in front.  Large canvas bags are laying in front of kneeling men
  • Date: 11 August 1944
A mission log for Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst of the 91st Bomb Group, 3 August 1944 -15 December 1944. Image via Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst, 91st Bomb Group.
  • Date: 5 August 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Brockhöfe, 29565 Wriedel, Germany 24 August 1944 - 24 August 1944 Shot down by Fock-Wulfes. Listed as MIA over Merseburg.

Revisions

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Contributoracbernstein1
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Contributorcfinney
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Sources

Crew on the Down n' Go when it was shot down Aug 1944

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Contributorcfinney
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from my dad's files.

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Contributorcfinney
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from my dad's files.

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Contributorcfinney
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From my dad's records about the aircraft. I do not have a picture. I am guessing that the uploaded drawing might have possibly been the same as the nose art on the aircraft.

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Contributorcfinney
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From Parker Finney's records.

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Contributorcfinney
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Listed as missing in action over Merseburg on Aug 24, 1944.

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Contributorcfinney
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Assigned to Deenethorpe April 16, 1944.

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Contributorcfinney
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From my father's (Parker Finney) records.

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Contributorcfinney
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From Parker Finney's records

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 8202 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-102394: Gallery (5 items)