42-29761 Martha II, Lucky Lady

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell, 1 September 1943. Not To Be Published 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men crowd around a Flying Fortre

Object Number - FRE 4831 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell,...

Delivered Denver 15/2/43; Walker 27/2/43; Salina 10/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 338BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 17/4/43 RUTH L II (re-named LUCKY LADY); transferred 533BS/381BG [VP-W] Ridgewell 14/7/43; Missing in Action 28m Brunswick 30/1/44 with Henry Steele, Co-pilot: Jim Settle, Navigator: Bob Anderson, Bombardier: Leopold Flores, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Perry Beach,Tail gunner: Paul Welch (6 Prisoners of War); Radio Operator: Wilbert Eason, Ball turret gunner: Harry Lee, Left Waist gunner: Harry Holtz, Right Waist gunner: Pete Hlynsky (4 Killed in Action); flak & enemy aircraft, crash landed between Bakel & Deurne, Hol. MACR 2244. MARTHA II.

Fitted with twin .50 nose gun configuration, which prevented the bombardier from using a bomb sight, resulting in this aircraft being used as a 'wing' aircraft to support the formation leader.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Air base
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

96th Bomb Group

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

People

Robert Frank Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-809494
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Perry Ernest Beach

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32250471
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer

Wilbert Everett Eason

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 3431627
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner

Leven B Ferrin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Leopold Leo Flores

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-688521
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

18500 E 6th Ave, Aurora, CO 80011, USA 15 February 1943 Delivered Denver AAF 15-Feb-43.

Assigned

Grafton Underwood, Kettering NN14, UK 17 April 1943 Assigned 338BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF.

Assigned

Ridgewell, Halstead CO9, UK 14 July 1943 Transferred 533BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

5761 Bakel, Netherlands 30 January 1944 Missing in Action 28m Brunswick 30/1/44 flak & enemy aircraft, crash landed between Bakel & Deurne, Hol. 6 x POW, 4 x KIA MACR 2244.

Manufactured

Seattle, WA, USA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date21 Feb 2023 21:51:01
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28601879

Date19 May 2022 10:58:25
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28601879

Date31 May 2020 00:07:50
ContributorkstrykerAK
Sources

Snetterton Falcons II: The 96th Bomb Group in World War II by Robert E Doherty & Geoffrey D Ward. Second Edition with Errata & Supplemental Information. Taylor Publishing Company. 1996. pages 38, 293, 301

Date29 May 2020 22:23:24
ContributorkstrykerAK
Sources

Snetterton Falcons II: The 96th Bomb Group in World War II by Robert E Doherty & Geoffrey D Ward. Second Edition with Errata and Supplemental Information. Taylor Publishing. 1996. pages 29, 293

Date17 Feb 2020 12:11:39
ContributorEmily
Sources

Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary, p148-149

Date7 Nov 2018 19:39:47
ContributorRayWells
Sources

Kris Azevedo

Date17 Feb 2018 03:13:48
ContributorARowe95
Sources

ARowe95

Date14 Feb 2018 03:35:18
ContributorARowe95
Sources

ARowe95

Date29 Sep 2017 10:07:14
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28601879

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:23
ContributorAAM
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2244 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-29761: Gallery (18 items)

Personnel of the 381st Bomb Group talk about their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Martha" to visiting British tank drivers of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps. A censor has obscured the gun inside the aircraft's nose cone. Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed as censored 1 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '281608.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BRITISH TANK MEN VISIT "FLYING FORTS". Men of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invi

Object number: FRE 1265 - Personnel of the 381st Bomb Group talk about their...

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps in the waist gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-W, serial number 42-29761) of the 381st Bomb Group, during a visit to Ridgewell. Passed as censored 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th [obscured] Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men look o

Object number: FRE 4825 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps in the...

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps in the waist gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-W, serial number 42-29761) of the 381st Bomb Group, during a visit to Ridgewell. Passed as censored 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th[obscured] Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men look ou

Object number: FRE 4826 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps in the...

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps queue to board a B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-W, serial number 42-29761) of the 381st Bomb Group, during a visit to Ridgewell. Passed as censored 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th[obscured] Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men queue up to enter the

Object number: FRE 4827 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps queue...

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps in the waist gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-W, serial number 42-29761) of the 381st Bomb Group, during a visit to Ridgewell. Passed as censored 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th[obscured] Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- Some of the R.A.C. men

Object number: FRE 4828 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps in the...

A Sergeant Major of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps in the cockpit of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell. Passed as censored 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th[obscured] Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.S.M. of the tank men looks

Object number: FRE 4829 - A Sergeant Major of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps...

A tankman of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps in the nose gun position of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell, 1 September 1943. Not To Be Published 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse is damaged: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- A tankman

Object number: FRE 4830 - A tankman of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps in the...

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell, 1 September 1943. Not To Be Published 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men crowd around a Flying Fortre

Object number: FRE 4831 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a...

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell, 1 September 1943. Not To Be Published 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men crowd around a Flying Fortre

Object number: FRE 4832 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a...

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell, 1 September 1943. Not To Be Published 1 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'British Tank Men Visit "Flying Corps". Men of the 55th Royal Armour Corps, many of whom have fought in Libya with the 8th Army, were invited to an American aerodrome "somewhere in Britain" to see Flying Fortresses. Keystone Photo Shows:- The R.A.C. men crowd around a Flying Fortre

Object number: FRE 4833 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a...

Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Marina the II" of the 381st Bomb Group during a visit to Ridgewell, 1 September 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Show only haze with guns. 165.' A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency and Ministry of Information [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 4834 - Personnel of the 55th Royal Armoured Corps with a...

Object number: UPL 30073 - 2nd Lt. William H Johnson [ Decatur, MS ], stands...