42-29699 Fifi | Old Battle Axe

Delivered Cheyenne 5/2/43; 94th Bomb Group Pueblo 18/2/43; Salina 27/2/43; Brookley 19/3/43; Smoky Hill 23/3/43; Presque Is 9/4/43; Assigned 332nd Bomb Squadron/94th Bomb Group [XM-F] Earls Colne 12/5/43 named 'FIFI'; Rougham 13/6/43; transferred to the 547th Bomb Squadron/384th Bomb Group at Station 106, Grafton Underwood [SO-D] on 16 July 1943; Missing in Action on a mission to Nantes, France, 16 September 1943 with William M. Price III, Co-pilot: Lee B. Coleman, Navigator: Harry Blakely Harvey, Bombardier: Leroy A. Arquette, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Earl R. Beaty, Radio Operator: Robert E. Smith, Ball turret gunner: Daniel Griffin, Waist gunner: James C. Leigh, Waist gunner: Earl James Nelson, Tail gunner: Ralph G. Grant (10 Returned to Duty); Shot down by enemy aircraft and ditched off south coast, all rescued by Air Sea Rescue launch. No Missing Air Crew Report, named 'OLD BATTLE AXE'.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane.  Five men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.  A man in overalls is standing on the the wing of the airplane
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14134547
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Military Occupation Specialty 748-Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735170
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot : Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-802726
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane. Five men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.  Some of the men are  wearing  cold weather flying gear.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0–672341
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11029725
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner / Tail Gunner

Places

Missions

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Removed the association to Photo "UPL 16607 ".

Date
ContributorJenny
Changes
Sources

'Larcy Arquette' corrected to 'Leroy Arquette' which is believed to be the correct spelling.

Date
ContributorJenny
Changes
Sources

Changed the spelling of 'Larcey' to 'Larcy'. It is possible that the real first name is 'Leroy'.

Date
ContributorJenny
Changes
Sources

Nicknames added from Lee B Coleman's record

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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