42-107054 Vat 69

media-23578.png UPL 23578 Lt. John W. Rice was a Pilot with the 600th Squadron, based at Nuthampstead. He is pictured here in front of B-17 "VAT 69" 42-107054.

398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum.

Object Number - UPL 23578 - Lt. John W. Rice was a Pilot with the 600th Squadron, based at Nuthampstead. He is pictured here in front of B-17 "VAT 69" 42-107054.

Delivered Tulsa 8/2/44; Assigned 398BG - Rapid City 2/3/44; Grenier 14/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 24/4/44; no ops, transferred 549BS/385BG [XA- ] Gt Ashfield; Returned to the USA Bradley 26/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 29/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 20/11/45. VAT 69.



A bottle of Vat 69 is on display at the Mighty Eighth Museum. This caption explains why:

'The navigator suggested the name VAT 69 since this was the Scotch whiskey the crew drank at their parties... Fifty years later the 398th Bomb Group had a reunion in England at the site of the old air base. The distillery in Scotland found out about the reunion and sent a case of VAT 69 for the crew. This last bottle is reserved for the co-pilot who was killed in action.'

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
The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.

398th Bomb Group

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

People

John W Rice

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 600th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: AO-802492
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Tulsa, Oklahoma 8 February 1944

Assigned

Nuthampstead Airfield, UK 385 BG 549BS

Revisions

Date
Contributorterveurn
Changes
Sources

from record cards

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Photos of display at the Mighty Eighth Museum were sent through by Chiles Cross.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-107054: Gallery (4 items)

John A. Daugherty, a radio man of the 385th Bomb Group sits atop a B-17 Flying Fortress. Another Fortress (serial number 42-107054) nicknamed "Vat 69" is visible in the background. Image via Tim Bivens. Bivens has handwritten on the reverse: 'John A Daugherty- Radio man. Fred Heiser crew 550th BS, 385th BG. In background B-17G-35-DL "Vat 69". Bivens enclosed a letter with the print: '7-14-03, Hello Roger, Got another “Mystery B-17” for you. Just recently obtained the enclosed prints from slides taken

Object number: FRE 1338 - John A. Daugherty, a radio man of the 385th Bomb...

Object number: UPL 23578 - Lt. John W. Rice was a Pilot with the 600th...

Object number: UPL 28162 - A bottle of Vat 69 is on display at the Mighty...

Object number: UPL 36933 - Nose art of B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42...