42-30317 Second Chance

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Second Chance" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-61554 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Second Chance" at an airbase in England, 19 September 1943. 562nd Bomb Sqdn., 388th Bomb Gp. U.S. Air Force Photo.' media-413932.jpg FRE 7848 The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Second Chance" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-61554 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Second Chance" at an airbase in England, 19 September 1943. 562nd Bomb Sqdn., 388th Bomb Gp. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

B-17F-95-BO #42-30317 "Second Chance" Code: K Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 7848 - The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Second Chance" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-61554...

Delivered Cheyenne 13/5/43; Smoky Hill 30/5/43; Dow Fd 15/6/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 17/6/43; Missing in Action Bremen 26/11/43 with Bill McCown, Co-pilot: Bill Stantial, Navigator: Winston Hall, Bombardier: Vince McHugh, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bert Crawford, Radio Operator: Floyd Smith, Ball turret gunner: Don Miller, Waist gunner: Ed Nelson, Waist gunner: George Krolik, Tail gunner: Harry Kincaid (10 Killed in Action); coll with 42-37838 (401BG) losing entire tail section, crashed Vehne Moor, Bissel, near Ahlhorn, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3075. SECOND CHANCE.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14139286
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
Lieutenant Paul Bensel and his crew of the 388th Bomb Group stand with a bomb, personally addressed to Hitler, and their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5954) nicknamed "Mister Yank II" before the Regensburg Raid, August 1943. A B-17 nicknamed "Homesick Angel" is visible in the background.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-673266
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Cheyenne, WY, USA 13 May 1943

Assigned

Knettishall, Diss IP22 2TH, UK 17 June 1943 388 BG 562 BS

Other

First 388th BG Combat Mission

Amsterdam, Netherlands 17 July 1943 Orignally assigned to the Ivan Willson Crew who flew her on 14 of her 23 combat missions

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

26197 Großenkneten, Germany 26 November 1943 Collision with 401BG B-17 McCown Crew 10 KIA

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
Contributorjohntreacy
Changes
Sources

MACR - pilot surname was McCown not McGowan.

Date
Contributorjohntreacy
Changes
Sources

From the MACR - McCown, not McGowan
Also, grave marker for three of the lost crew names Hall, Crawford, McCown

Date
Contributorjohntreacy
Changes
Sources

MACR 3075 from archives.gov

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

http://www.388bg.info/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=42-30317&da…
B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman
page 139

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3075 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-30317: Gallery (1 items)