42-30193 | American Air Museum

42-30193 Hard Luck

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30193) nicknamed "Hard Luck". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Eceleston crew.'

media-380291.jpg FRE 1486 A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30193) nicknamed "Hard Luck". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Eceleston crew.'

Kenneth L. Eccleston Crew
388th BG - 561st BS

Standing Left to Right: Kenneth L. Eccleston (P), Riley F. Bisonette (CP), John K. Dorsett (N), Milton Fletcher (B)

Kneeling Left to Right: David L. Ceely (TG), Norman D. Gallagher (FE), Joseph J. Molinari (BTG), David F. Holliman (WG/FE), George B. Doyle (R/O), Ivan Clark (WG)

Gallagher left the crew after 5 missions. He was later KIA flying with the Sundstrom Crew on 9 April 1944. Hollman took over as flight engineer. Bisonette flew six additional mission as pilot of his own crew.

Roger Freeman Collection

http://www.388bg.info/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=388-C116&da…

Object Number - FRE 1486 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30193) nicknamed "Hard Luck". Handwritten caption on reverse:...

Delivered Cheyenne 24/4/43; Sioux City 8/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 14/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 15/6/43.

Crashed on take off for Schweinfurt 14/10/43 with Paul Swift, Co-pilot: Cecil Tipper, Navigator: Paul Arbon, Bombardier: Otto Bowmaninj, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bertil Erickson, Radio Operator: John Taylor, Ball turret gunner: Joe Molinari, Waist gunner: Tom Norton, Waist gunner: Don Van Cundy,Tail gunner: Bob bPonton, pass-Colie Emlyn (11 Returned to Duty), Salvaged. HARD LUCK.

See Media entries 20794 and 20795 for pictured crew members.

Connections

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Units served with

388th Bomb Group

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

561st Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Paul Arbon

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Charles A Bein

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 37111609
Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Riley F Bissonette

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-675160
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot

Otto R Bowman

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Ivan Clark

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 33219803
Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Knettishall

Site type: Airfield

Missions

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

VIII Bomber Command 115

Date: 14 October 1943

A B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-30233) of the 95th Bomb Group in flight during a mission over Munster, B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-6414) nicknamed "Herky Jerky II" (circled) breaks formation due to damage. Printed caption on reverse of print: '26414 AC - Munster, Germany (Oct 10, 1943), disabled Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" in flight. U.S. Air Force Photo. 10-10-43.'

VIII Bomber Command 114

Date: 10 October 1943

VIII Bomber Command 113

Date: 9 October 1943

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 388th Bomb Group fly over Nazi smoke screens. Printed caption on reverse: '73228 AC- The Nazis have released smoke screens in an effort to hide their railroad yards as Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" fly over the target at Bremen, Germany, prior to the release of the bombs. 8 October 1943.'

VIII Bomber Command 111

Date: 8 October 1943

The wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5888) nicknamed "Elusive Elcy" of the 94th Bomb Group flies off as a result of a direct hit, during a mission over Emden. Handwritten caption on reverse: '94 BG. 27/9/43.' Printed caption on reverse: 'A DRAMATIC INCIDENT DURING THE AIR WAR OVER EUROPE: A WING BREAKS OFF A FLYING FORTRESS DURING A DAYLIGHT BATTLE, AND THE STRICKEN BOMBER BEGINS TO TURN OVER AS IT STARTS ON THE WAY DOWN TO EARTH. This picture illustrates one of the hazards which the big A

VIII Bomber Command 104

Date: 27 September 1943

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Delivered	Cheyenne, WY, USA	24 April 1943
Assigned	Knettishall, Diss IP22 2TH, UK	15 June 1943	388 BG 561 BS Assigned to the Eccleston Crew who flew her on 17 of her 19 combat missions
Other First 388th BG Combat Mission	Amsterdam, Netherlands	17 July 1943
Crashed	Knettishall, Diss IP22 2TH, UK	14 October 1944	An 8th Air Force Bomber Command Station, England October 1943: Nice piloting by 1st Lt. Paul Swift, saved the lives of himself and his entire crew when an engine failed and caught fire just as his Flying Fortress was taking off. The ship loaded to the limit with fuel and bombs, was near the end of the runway, traveling at 110 MPH when this airman's nightmare suddenly became a reality. Lt. Swift brought the burning ship to a stop so that the crew emerged unharmed and got clear before the explosion. (Picture at left of Pilot Swift and Navigator Lt. Arbon looking over what was left the next day.) "We almost had flying speed when the co-pilot Lt. Tipper, called out that the oil pressure was zero on No. 3 engine. The ship began to pull to the right and he saw flames coming from the dying engine. Observers report that smoke came from the tires as the brakes were applied. With a rough field ahead of him, followed by a solid wall of trees, Lt. Swift ordered wheels up. The take-off became a belly landing. The ship stopped with her nose crushed in by a tree." The entire neighborhood was cleared of personnel, planes were sent out by a different runway, and preparations were made for the explosion which was spectacular when it came. Nobody was hurt. The crew of the 561st Squadron was flying a different plane as their own "Virgin on the Verge" was being repaired that day.