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 media-380297.jpg 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: '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 Haroian, Boise, Idaho;
1st Lt Charles Bliss, Los Angeles, California;
2nd Lt Vernon D Duncan, Columbus, Ohio;
2nd Lt Bernard J Quenneville, Hadley, Mass.

Kneeling left to right:
S/Sgt Robert E Brailey, Woonsocket, RI;
T/Sgt Albert N Brown, Great Falls, Mont;
S/Sgt Herman B Mays, Terre Haute, Ind;
S/Sgt Lawrence H Ruddell, Wausau, Wisc;
S/Sgt Edmund W Wilbert, Westlake, Ohio;
T/Sgt Henry G Rotell, Riwabik, Minn.
US Air force Photo.' Roger Freeman Collection

http://www.388bg.info/servlet/Controller?pageType=photoImage&id=388-P-C…

Corrected the names of Haroian and Duncan in the photo caption. Added Haroian to the connections.

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35447653
  • Highest Rank: 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
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-52478
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15382852
  • Highest Rank: 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
  • 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
  • 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

Date
ContributorDoug Hamilton
Changes
Sources

2x personal images contributed of 42-30177 "Bir Hakeim" taken somepoint between 1945 and 1947 in the Mediterranean/ African theatre by my grandfather W/O Ronald Sullings whilst he served in RAF Air transport command as a wireless operator on Douglas DC3's.

Date
ContributorDoug Hamilton
Changes
Sources

Image taken in Mediterranean/ North African theatre somepoint between 1945 and 1947. Photograph taken by my grandfather W/O Ronald sullings whilst he was serving in RAF air transport command as a wireless operator on Douglas DC3 Dakotas.

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman
page 136

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorjmchristel
Changes
Sources

Added connections

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-30177: Gallery (16 items)