42-29868 | American Air Museum

42-29868 Flap Raiser aka The Venus

media-21961.jpeg UPL 21961 42-29868 aka "The Venus" with crew.

Object Number - UPL 21961 - 42-29868 aka "The Venus" with crew.

Delivered Denver 27/2/43; Pueblo 13/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 508BS/351BG [YB-K] Polebrook 17/4/43; Missing in Action 21m Anklam 9/10/43 with Joe Turley, Navigator: Bob Coe, Bombardier: Abe Silverman, Radio Operator: Theo Brantz, Ball turret gunner: Alvin Jeanes, Waist gunner: Ray Hammond, Waist gunner: Nelson Harmon, Tail gunner: Bill Trask (8 Killed in Action), Co-pilot: Frank Williams, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Theo Curtis (2 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, ditched Baltic Sea, E of Langeland Island, Den. Missing Air Crew Report 877. FLAP RAISER aka THE VENUS.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

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

The insignia of the 508th Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group.

508th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Theodore W Brantz

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 37290724
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Robert W Coe

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Theodore P Curis

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Raymond A Hammond

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 36179558
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Nelson O Harmon

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107124) of the 351st Bomb Group flies over Polebrook.

Polebrook

Site type: Airfield

Presque Isle Army Airfield

Site type: Airfield
Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is

Missions

VIII Bomber Command 113

Date: 9 October 1943

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 388th Bomb Group fly over Nazi smoke screens. Printed caption on reverse: '73228 AC- The Nazis have released smoke screens in an effort to hide their railroad yards as Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" fly over the target at Bremen, Germany, prior to the release of the bombs. 8 October 1943.'

VIII Bomber Command 111

Date: 8 October 1943

VIII Bomber Command 106

Date: 2 October 1943

The wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5888) nicknamed "Elusive Elcy" of the 94th Bomb Group flies off as a result of a direct hit, during a mission over Emden. Handwritten caption on reverse: '94 BG. 27/9/43.' Printed caption on reverse: 'A DRAMATIC INCIDENT DURING THE AIR WAR OVER EUROPE: A WING BREAKS OFF A FLYING FORTRESS DURING A DAYLIGHT BATTLE, AND THE STRICKEN BOMBER BEGINS TO TURN OVER AS IT STARTS ON THE WAY DOWN TO EARTH. This picture illustrates one of the hazards which the big A

VIII Bomber Command 104

Date: 27 September 1943

Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane. Five men standing to the rear and four men kneeling in front. Some of the men are wearing flying gear.

VIII Bomber Command 100

Date: 23 September 1943

Events

Event

Location

Date

Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

9 October 1943

Revisions

Date13 Apr 2024 18:13:36

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Added a space before the words “Tail gunner” in the A/C “Description” section.

Updated the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.

Date29 May 2016 21:32:48

ContributorAlex-5872-dk

Changes

Sources

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:24

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 877 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-29868: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 21961 - 42-29868 aka "The Venus" with crew.