42-30140 King Malfunction II
Parked at a hardstand at Ridgewell AAF, June/July 1943
Uploaded
Object Number - UPL 16127 - B-17F Ser.# 42-30140 "KING MALFUNCTION II" 532d Squadron, 381st Bomb Group (H) Parked at a hardstand at Ridgewell AAF, June/July 1943
Delivered Cheyenne 15/4/43; Smoky Hill 25/4/43; Walla Walla 2/5/43; Smoky Hill 10/5/43; Dow Fd 26/5/43; Assigned 532BS/381BG [VE-V] Ridgewell 23/6/43; Missing in Action 6m Schweinfurt 17/8/43
Pilot - 1LT Jack Painter (KIA-body still in a/c)
Co-Pilot - 2LT Everett Ragan (flew in Tail Gunner position as Observer for Schweinfurt MSN)
*Co-pilot for Schweinfurt MSN - 1LT Robert Nelson (Group Operations Officer)
Navigator - 2LT William J. Keays
Bombardier - 2LT Lloyd Duke
Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner - S/Sgt Matthew Kowalski
Radio Operator - S/Sgt William Balentine
Left Waist Gunner - S/Sgt Norman G. Whitman,
Right Waist Gunner - S/Sgt Raymond Genz
Ball Turret Gunner - S/Sgt Allen J. Kellogg
Tail Gunner - S/Sgt James Mizell
Flak KO’d #3 & #4 feathered, crashed Esch, five miles SE of Munstereifel, Ger.
1 x KIA; 8 x Prisoner of War; 2 x Crew EVD (Nelson & Genz)
Missing Air Crew Report 379. KING MALFUNCTION II.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34129005
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734658
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37268430
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-736866
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37198577
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ol Swayback, Moor Fidite
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hell's Angel
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Gloria Ann, Iris, Uncle Sammy
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron 533rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Great In Lani / Sweet Is (Le) Lani
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lucky Lady
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Bad Münstereifel, Germany | 17 August 1943 |
Revisions
MACR 379; personal interviews conducting SGM Chris Lewis (nephew of Norman Whitman) with surviving crewmembers 1998-2002;
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 379 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
