42-30030 Old Ironsides

Object Number - UPL 28296

Delivered Cheyenne 2/4/43; Sioux City 13/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 23/5/43; Assigned 544BS/384BG [BK-F] Grafton Underwood 29/5/43; transferred 2 SAD Lt Staughton 31/7/43 then 560BS/388BG.

Missing in Action La Rochelle 16/9/43 with Henry Nagorka, Co-pilot: Gil Parker, Navigator: John Leverone, Bombardier: Mike Mahoney, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ed Kiesler, Radio Operator: Francis Antalek, Ball turret gunner: Bob Blankenburg, Tail gunner: Jack Harris lost leg in ditching (8 Returned to Duty); Waist gunner: Ed Christensen, Waist gunner: Claude Whitehead (2 Killed in Action); no gas, ditched near Farne Islands, Northumberland. Survivors reached St Cuthbert’s Island in their dinghy.
Missing Air Crew Report 16289.
OLD IRONSIDES.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.

388th Bomb Group

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

People

Francis J Antalek

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31165306
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner, Radio Operator; Ball Turret Gunner

Robert Albert Blankenburg

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36253067
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner; Radio Operator Gunner, Radio Operator
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene". Printed caption on reverse: '61552 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Charlene". England. 30 August 1943. Standing left to right are: 2nd Lt John N Harlan, Boise, Idaho; 1st Lt Charles Bliss, Los Angeles, California; 2nd Lt Vernon D Dunkin, Columbus, Ohio; 2nd Lt Bernard J Quenneville, Hadley, Mass. Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt Ro

Charles Cushman Bliss

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-52478
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene". Printed caption on reverse: '61552 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Charlene". England. 30 August 1943. Standing left to right are: 2nd Lt John N Harlan, Boise, Idaho; 1st Lt Charles Bliss, Los Angeles, California; 2nd Lt Vernon D Dunkin, Columbus, Ohio; 2nd Lt Bernard J Quenneville, Hadley, Mass. Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt Ro

Albert N Brown

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39388075
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer - Top Turret Gunner

Edward G Christensen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18077556
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Missions

Revisions

Date4 Mar 2020 03:19:04
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

Added Production block number from Fold3.

Date4 Mar 2020 03:13:50
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date17 Jun 2015 16:28:40
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Sources

Associated people from :
MACR 16289 - http://www.fold3.com/image/30088068/ ;
http://www.388bg.info/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=388-L031&da…

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:26
ContributorAAM
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-30030: Gallery (1 items)