42-30177 Charlene

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

Object Number - FRE 1492 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene". Printed caption on reverse:...

Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/43; Gore Fd 27/4/43; Cheyenne 2/5/43; Sioux City 13/5/43; Smoky Hill 11/6/43; Dow Fd 16/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 23/6/43 as CHARLENE; 15m transferred RCM 803BS Sculthorpe 19/1/44; Oulton 16/5/44; 36BS Cheddington 14/8/44; Alconbury 3/45. Given by Ike to French Gen. Pierre Koenig 17/12/45; re-named BIR-HACKEIM and had tail shot up during Cold War en route to Berlin; 1953 sold to IGN as F-GBSG at Creil until 1960s. Written off 1973.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 36th Bomb Squadron (Radar Counter Measures).

36th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.

388th Bomb Group

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

People

Hobert Jackson Beavers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35447653
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade)
  • Role/Job: 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

Harold Adrian Brassfield

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15382852
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
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
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

Vernon C Duncan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-672780
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Cheyenne, WY 24 April 1943

Assigned

Knettishall Airfield, UK 23 June 1943 388BG 562BS

Assigned

RAF Sculthorpe, UK 19 January 1944 803BS Radio Counter Measures

Assigned

Cheddington Airfield, UK 14 August 1944 36BS

Revisions

Date24 Oct 2020 01:47:19
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman
page 136

Date24 Oct 2020 01:45:03
Contributor466thHistorian
Sources

B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman, page 136
http://www.388bg.com/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=42-30177&dat…

Date4 Feb 2016 20:13:57
Contributorjmchristel
Sources

Added connections

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:27
ContributorAAM
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-30177: Gallery (14 items)

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

Object number: FRE 1492 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B...

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene".

Object number: FRE 1497 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B...

A damaged B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) of the 388th Bomb Group, 4 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(GAD-12-1-388)(4-8-43)(A/C No. 230177 Type B-17F)."

Object number: FRE 7862 - A damaged B-17F Flying Fortress (serial number 42...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F) nicknamed "Bir Hakeim (Charlene)" formerly of the 388th Bomb Group, used as an executive transport aircraft for the French High Commissioner at Wahn, Germany.

Object number: FRE 8809 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F)...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F) nicknamed "Bir Hakeim (Charlene)" formerly of the 388th Bomb Group, in service as an executuve transport aircraft by the Free French Air Force. Image stamped on reverse: 'Etablissement Cinématographique et Photographique des Armées (ECPA).'

Object number: FRE 8810 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F)...

French Generals with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F) nicknamed "Bir Hakeim (Charlene)" formerly of the 388th Bomb Group, used as an executive transport aircraft for the French High Commissioner at Wahn, Germany. Image via H Perrin. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'From left to right: Lt Mercier, Adjt/Chef Provencel, Capt Perrin.'

Object number: FRE 8811 - French Generals with a B-17 Flying Fortress...

A French crew and German Mechanics with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F) nicknamed "Bir Hakeim (Charlene)" formerly of the 388th Bomb Group, used as an executive transport aircraft for the French High Commissioner at Wahn, Germany. Image via H Perrin. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bir Hakeim with her crew (Capt Perrin second from left) and her German Mechanics, Hrn Konrad, Beiuer, Beetz.'

Object number: FRE 8812 - A French crew and German Mechanics with a B-17...

A French crew with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F) nicknamed "Bir Hakeim (Charlene)" formerly of the 388th Bomb Group, used as an executive transport aircraft for the French High Commissioner at Wahn, Germany. Image via H Perrin. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bir Hakeim and her crew.'

Object number: FRE 8813 - A French crew with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial...

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F) nicknamed "Bir Hakeim (Charlene)" formerly of the 388th Bomb Group, used as an executive transport aircraft for the French High Commissioner at Wahn, Germany. Image via H Perrin. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bir-Hackeim befre to Wahn accident.'

Object number: FRE 8814 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial...

The crumpled nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F) nicknamed "Bir Hakeim (Charlene)" formerly of the 388th Bomb Group, used as an executive transport aircraft for the French High Commissioner, after crash landing at Wahn. Image via H Perrin. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bir-Hackeim AFTER Wahn!'

Object number: FRE 8815 - The crumpled nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F) nicknamed "Bir Hakeim (Charlene)" formerly of the 388th Bomb Group, used as an executive transport aircraft for the French High Commissioner at Wahn, Germany.

Object number: FRE 8816 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F)...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F) nicknamed "Bir Hakeim (Charlene)" formerly of the 388th Bomb Group, used as an executive transport aircraft by the Free French Air Force. Image stamped on reverse: 'Etablissement Cinématographique et Photographique des Armées (ECPA).'

Object number: FRE 8817 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177-F)...