42-30207 Big Red

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.' media-380286.jpg FRE 1481 A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'

Richard H. Bailey Crew
388th BG - 561st BS

Standing Left to Right: George Bartuska (B), Richard H. Bailey (P), William L. Tobin (CP), Laurence M. Bairstow (N)

Kneeling Left to Right: Ned Transou (R/O), John J. Thompson (FE), Donald E. Marble (WG), Ralph Higgins (TG), Edward L. Gwinnell (WG), Roy L. Graziani (BTG)

Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1481 - A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse:...

Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 12/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG [ -T] Knettishall 14/6/43; Missing in Action Bordeaux 27/3/44 with Julius Lederman, Co-pilot: Waite Law, Bombardier: John Luzell (3 Prisoner of War); Navigator: John Carroll, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Herman Hermanson (2 evaded capture); Radio Operator: Blair Harman, Ball turret gunner: Lou Mizera, Waist gunner: George Schwarzkopf, Waist gunner: Joe Kapec,Tail gunner: George Hewett (5 Killed in Action); flare set off fire in radio room, circled & crashed La Gombretiere, Aizenay, nine miles NW of La Roche-sur-Yon, 17 miles S of Nantes, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 3540. BIG RED.

Connections

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Units served with

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

People

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-793713
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-795297
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-733513
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19176865
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

29 April 1943

Assigned

14 June 1943 388 BG 561 BS

Other

First 388th BG Combat Mission

17 July 1943 Originally assigned to the R.H. Bailey Crew

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

27 March 1944 Flares set off fire in radio room during mission 33 combat missions completed plus 7 aborts

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3540 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-30207: Gallery (1 items)