42-102416 Lady Luck

John A Miller, a waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group wears an A-2 Flying Jacket decorated with the nose art of the B-17 Flying Fortress he flew in, a B-17 (serial number 42-102416) nicknamed "Lady Luck". John A Miller has handwritten on reverse: 'July 1944 349th BS- 100th BG. S/Sgt John A Miller & Jacket (A-2 Jacket). The artist was 5 bombs short, but I shipped out before he got the chance to paint on 5 more. I'm only foolin'! I'm not doing what it looks like I'm doing!' media-379967.jpg FRE 1652 John A Miller, a waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group wears an A-2 Flying Jacket decorated with the nose art of the B-17 Flying Fortress he flew in, a B-17 (serial number 42-102416) nicknamed "Lady Luck". John A Miller has handwritten on reverse: 'July 1944 349th BS- 100th BG. S/Sgt John A Miller & Jacket (A-2 Jacket). The artist was 5 bombs short, but I shipped out before he got the chance to paint on 5 more. I'm only foolin'! I'm not doing what it looks like I'm doing!' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1652 - John A Miller, a waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group wears an A-2 Flying Jacket decorated with the nose art of the B-17 Flying Fortress he flew in,...

Cheyenne 1/3/44; Hunter 14/3/44; Grenier 11/4/44; Assigned 349BS/100BG [XR-H] Thorpe Abbotts 19/4/44; Missing in Action St Lo, 25/7/44 with Larry Townsend, Co-pilot: Andy Burkhart, Navigator: Arnold Holmes, Bombardier: George Gardner, Radio Operator: Lou Glasser, Ball turret gunner: Chalmers Anderson, Waist gunner: Gordon Lane, Tail gunner: Earl Milam (8 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Walt Kolar (EVD, joined US tank crew); flak KO’d #2, crashed coastal area of France. Missing Air Crew Report 7837. LADY LUCK.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

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

People

Chalmers M Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Andrew J Burkhart

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

George D Gardner

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-689501
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Personnel of the 100th Bomb Group, including John A Miller enjoy a boat trip in Italy. John A Miller, A veteran waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group has handwritten on reverse: About June 30, 1944. We had left Russia + were based near Foggia, Italy. (1st shuttle raid to Russia- Italy) on this day we went up to Manfredonia + went swimming + sailing in the Adriatic Sea. Lt to Rt: Larry Townsend (P), Walt Kolar (TT), John A Miller (RW), Italian boatman. Front: Louis Glasser (R), Ed Fehrenkamp (CP). 5 of the

Louis P Glasser

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Arnold L Holmes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-695915
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

France 25 July 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a unit connection to the 8th AF.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 7837 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-102416: Gallery (1 items)

John A Miller, a waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group wears an A-2 Flying Jacket decorated with the nose art of the B-17 Flying Fortress he flew in, a B-17 (serial number 42-102416) nicknamed "Lady Luck". John A Miller has handwritten on reverse: 'July 1944 349th BS- 100th BG. S/Sgt John A Miller & Jacket (A-2 Jacket). The artist was 5 bombs short, but I shipped out before he got the chance to paint on 5 more. I'm only foolin'! I'm not doing what it looks like I'm doing!'

Object number: FRE 1652 - John A Miller, a waist gunner of the 100th Bomb...