42-29573 Two Beauts
452nd Bomb Group Assoc.
Object Number - UPL 30033
B-17F 42-29573 [VK-H] "Two Beauts" 303BG/358BS was delivered at Denver 6-Jan-43; Salina 12-Jan-43; Morrison 12-Feb-43; Homestead 15-Feb-43; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-H] Molesworth 6-Mar-43
13-Mar-43 Sustained a mid-air collision with B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS in 10/10 cloud cover over Wellingboro, Northamptonshire, UK while despatched on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. Crashed at Mears Abby, UK. 7KIA 3BO/RTD.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
![Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group play cards between raids. A censor has obscured the insignia on the airman's jacket. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], Passed for publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257513.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Standing on left watching a card game "somewhere in England", 2nd Lieut (Pilot) Richard L. Kruse, of 990 Clark Rd. Ypsilanti, Michigan, has a right to express his views on labour questions. Having won the Air Medal and two](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378844.jpg.webp?itok=4YkHobFO)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 661496
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-729475
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12012003 / O-435698
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11029142
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11051595
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
Missions
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Lee Cunningham 11-Mar-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cunningham 11-Mar-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cunningham 11-Mar-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Lee Cunningham 11-Mar-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Lee Cunningham 11-Mar-2016. Added Block#, Manufacturer and Coding; Converted dates to USAAF military-style signification, added loss details, Participations statement and Mission listing to Description; Made connections to Place and Missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html