42-102610 Boomerang
Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/44; Gr Island 6/4/44; Dow Fd 19/4/44; Assigned 602BS/398BG [K8-Y/L] Nuthampstead 5/5/44; (66m) detailed Bischoffsheim, Ger but never made assembly 30/12/44 with Lyle Doerr, Co-pilot: Giles Teague, Navigator: John Walker, Bombardier: Bob Stewart, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Kiska, Radio Operator: Joe Gaiser, Ball turret gunner: Hazen Earle, Waist gunner: Joe Bergant,Tail gunner: Tom Fox (9 Killed in Action); spotted by RAF Walrus to explode, crashed in Channel off Beachy Head, UK; Missing Air Crew Report 11243. BOOMERANG.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395101.jpg?itok=a_8hAB7c)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![The insignia of the 602nd Bomb Squadron, 398th Bomb Group. Featuring the Disney character 'Goofy'.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395104.jpg?itok=RXuBl2J4)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
![Black and white portrait of S/Sgt. Joe Bergant in dress uniform](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/2022-12/Bergant.jpg?itok=nyqxaoQj)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39920353
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-31308.jpeg?itok=0uXohqOH)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 1st Scouting Force 383rd Fighter Squadron 385th Fighter Squadron 602nd Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-1995743
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-pilot / Fighter pilot
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-43420.jpeg?itok=LK68qcOP)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17113914 / O-760600
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-23577.png?itok=GvYQK2U1)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31204391
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-55647.jpeg?itok=Z4zSz7jw)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13137287
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
![Aerial photograph of Nuthampstead Airfield looking north, the technical and recreation sites are on the left, the ammunition dump and firing butts are at the bottom, 9 June 1948. Photograph taken by No. 58 Squadron, sortie number RAF/58/53. English Heritage (RAF Photography).](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/eh/eh-411.jpg?itok=3zasmDaa)
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Delivered |
Cheyenne AAF, WY | 18 March 1944 | Delivered Cheyenne AAF. |
Assigned |
Nuthampstead, UK | 5 May 1944 | Assigned 602BS, 398BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
Off Beachy Head | 30 December 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Bischoffsheim with Doerr crew; never made assembly, seen to explode on impact with sea near Beachy Head. 9 x KIA MACR 1124 |
Manufactured |
Long Beach, CA | Built at Boeing. |
Revisions
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 11243 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database