42-29673 Old Bill
Object Number - UPL 30088 - B-17F 42-29673 'Old Bill' having its nose art painted on by nose art was painted by Bruce Bairnsfather.
Delivered Denver 31/1/43; Gt Falls 8/2/43; Morrison 5/3/43; Assigned 365BS/305BG [XK-S] Chelveston 6/4/43; then 422BS [JJ-S]; severe battle damaged Wangerooge 15/5/43 with Capt Bill Whitson, Co-pilot: Harry Holt, Bombardier: Bob Barrall (wia), Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Albt Haymon (wia), Radio Operator: Fred Bewak (wia), Ball turret gunner: Edgar Nichols, Waist gunner: Homer Ramsey, Waist gunner: John Breen, Tail gunner: Ken Meyer, photo-George Friend (10 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Doug Venable (Killed in Action); crash landed base on return, Salvaged 16/5/43. OLD BILL.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13031062 / O-660322
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36199006
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Photographer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11041018
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Revisions
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
I meet with the pilot Capt. William (Bill) Whitson at his home in Denton, Tx. back in March 2007. He told me the story of his new plane 42-29673 JJ-S and how it got it's name "Old Bill". Bill was friendly with the 305th BG resident artist, Englishman Capt. Bruce Bairnsfather. Bruce asked Bill if he could paint his WW1 character "Old Bill" on his new plane. Bill thought it at great idea as his first plane 41-24529 JJ-T had never had a name. After consultation with his crew, Bill gave Bruce permission to paint the nose art "Old Bill" on his plane. It is also probable that the ship never carried the code XK-S as Bill told me, he was the only pilot to fly 42-29673 JJ-S "Old Bill" in it's short life with the 305th BG Cheers, Graham Meiklejohn
