42-102467 Agony Wagon III

media-36417.png UPL 36417 Ford's crew of the 8Th AF's 398th Bomb Group by their B-17, "Agony Wagon III", at their base in England, 20 July 1944.
Nuthampstead Ref: A9304.
Nuthampstead Airfield Museum collection

398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum. Museum object reference number: USB1-62

Object Number - UPL 36417 - Ford's crew of the 8Th AF's 398th Bomb Group by their B-17, "Agony Wagon III", at their base in England, 20 July 1944. Nuthampstead Ref: A9304.

Delivered Cheyenne 5/3/44; Gr Island 27/3/44; Grenier 7/4/44; Assigned 600BS/398BG [N8-J] Nuthampstead 27/4/44; on training mission 4/5/44 with Lt E. Ford in mid-air collision with 42-107191, damaged left wing but returned safely; Missing in Action Brandenburg (32m) 6/8/44 with Ike Alhadeff, Co-pilot: Clarry Evans, Navigator: Paul Foster, Bombardier: John Sigsworth, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Martin Chavez, Radio Operator: Orville Elsrod, Ball turret gunner: Nathan Mirell, Waist gunner: Tudor Mellville, Tail gunner: Dave Walker (9 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Scharmbeckstotel, NW of Bremen, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 7886 (?7885). AGONY WAGON III.



I think there may be an error in this citation and these two incidents were in separate aircraft or different crews. My father told me the story of this training accident several times. The story includes damage to the nose bubble and loss of the bombardier. He was the flight engineer. However, he was never shot down, and never used the "III" designation behind the aircraft name "Agony Wagon".

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-754306
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19028026
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15333617
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-703972
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-756867
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 6 August 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorTimothy Vallilee
Changes
Sources

Oral history told by my father, Robert Vallilee.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 7886 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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