42-29985 Kathleen | Barrel House Bessie
Object Number - UPL 45626 - "Aftermath Of A Crack-Up By A Boeing B-17 (Ac #42-29985) Of The 2nd Service Group, At An Air Base Somewhere In Iceland. 17 April 1943."
Delivered Denver 22/3/43; Cheyenne 31/3/43; Smoky Hill 5/4/43; Dow Fd 15/4/43; with Rich Jerger force landed Meeks Fd, Iceland 17/4/43; Assigned 545BS/384BG [JD-Y] Grafton Underwood 28/6/43; transferred 367BS/306BG [GY-X] Thurleigh 22/8/43. Missing in Action Bremen 8 October 1943 with Thomas D. Ledgerwood, Co-pilot: John G. Acker, Navigator: Myron L. Sorden, Bombardier: Eugene H. Levy, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harvey D. Cooke Jr, Radio Operator: Robert Van Dragt, Ball turret gunner: John K. Spell, Waist gunner: Patrick A. Walsh Jr, obs-Capt Paul George (9 Prisoner of War); Waist gunner: Andrew E. Fila (died of wounds 6 Nov), Tail gunner: Art Robinson trapped in tail when ship hit by Me 110 rockets (2 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft set two engines on fire, crashed Handrup, 10 miles NE of Lingen, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 868. KATHLEEN aka BARREL HOUSE BESSIE.
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: Group
- 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: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-679006
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18108164
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665291
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Missions
- Date: 8 October 1943
- Date: 12 August 1943
- Date: 30 July 1943
- Date: 29 July 1943
- Date: 28 July 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 8 October 1943 | Shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed near Handrup, Germany |
Revisions
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
MACR 868
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 868 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
