42-30412 Mischief-Maker II
Vern Iverson's son Derek. Vern's first bombardier Lt Galle was transferred prior to this and was shot down by this date.
Object Number - FRE 864 - A bomber crew, led by Captain Vern Iverson, of the 96th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30412) nicknamed "Mischief-Maker...
Plane Mischief Maker II entered combat approximately Jun43 under command of Capt V.L. Iverson after the original Mischief Maker was damaged beyond repair. After this crew completed 25 missions Maj. Iverson was retained for HQ USSTAF, the crew disbanded and some crew members were returned home. MMII was refurbished and assigned to Lt Paul Herring. On his first mission in this aircraft Lt Herring was shot down.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-120531
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39311090
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11110708
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 6 March 1944
- Date: 4 March 1944
- Date: 31 December 1943
- Date: 24 December 1943
- Date: 5 December 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
1 January 1943 | Delivered Cheyenne 28/5/43; Roswell 9/6/43; Kearney 10/6/43; Dow Fd 2/7/43; This may match Capt Iverson's flight records; his wife's recollections; and the date on the photo (22Aug43) showing 13 completed missions. Capt Iverson started operational missions 13May43 and completed 13 missions 19Aug43. So if plane arrived early July in England he could have switched after his 10th mission. His flight records don't record the tail number of his flights so it's hard to be exact here. | |
|
Other First crew under Capt V.L. Iverson |
1 June 1943 - 31 December 1943 | Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-B] Snetterton 3/7/43; Capt Vern Iverson (standing in back row in picture, 2nd from left) was made aircraft commander of MMII in approximately Jun43 after the original Mischief Maker suffered extensive battle damage. From Capt Iverson's flight records he flew the original MM from Patterson Fld to Dow Fld 16Apr43; Dow to Goose Bay 23Apr43; Goose Bay to Meeks Fld 25Apr43; Meeks Fld to Preswick 26Apr43; Preswick to Grafton Under 27Apr43. His crew at this time included Lt. Wm. Galle Bombadier, Lt Davidson Navigator, Lt Jack Gawley CoPilot. At the time the picture was taken the nose of MMII records 13 missions and the date on the photo appears to be 22Aug43. Capt Iverson's first operational mission (in MM) was 13May43. He flew his 13th operational mission on 19Aug43 (Bomber Mission 85) in MMII. After he was selected as a lead aircraft for the 8th AF, he didn't always fly with 96th BG. When Capt Iverson became an 8th AF lead crew his bombadier was replaced by Capt Mike Arpaia. I think this crew completed their last mission 31Dec43 with a mission to Paris (Bomber Mission 171). Maj. Iverson then flew two more operational missions with substitute crew and aircraft on 21Jan44 and 3Mar44 before being assigned to HQ USSTAF. When his crew departed, Mischief Maker II was assigned to Lt Paul Herring. Lt Herring was shot down on his first operational mission in MMII on 4/3/44. | |
|
Other Second crew under Lt. P. Herring |
1 January 1944 - 4 March 1944 | Plane refurbished and fitted for new crew. Checked out with Lt. Paul Herring. | |
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 4 March 1944 | Lt Herring was shot down on his first mission 4/3/44. Missing in Action 15m Berlin 4/3/44 with Paul Herring; Co-pilot: Charles D. Beard Jr; Navigator: John W. Wilson; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: George Goetz; Tail gunner: Glenn E. Brenneke; photographer Howard G. Sakarias (6 evaded capture); Bombardier: William D. Wood, Radio Operator: Robert E. Doherty; Ball turret gunner: Walter C. Rich; Waist gunner: Everett N. Johnson, Waist gunner: Luigi Iacovialle (5 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Glabais, 15 miles SE of Brussels, Belgium; Missing Air Crew Report 3425. MISCHIEF-MAKER II. |
Revisions
Added "B-17" to the production block number.
AAM associated image.
Taken from flight records of V.L. Iverson by his son Derek Iverson (which included flight of original Mischief Maker and record of all operational missions in Europe); corroborated with americanairmuseum.com mission data; discussed with Margaret A. Iverson, Vern's wife.
MACR 3425
Research on the crew
Evader Glenn BRENNEKE : http://www.evasioncomete.org/fbrennege.html
Evader Howard SAKARIAS : http://www.evasioncomete.org/fsakarihg.html
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3425 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
![The nose art of B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30412) nicknamed "Mischief Maker II" of the 96th Bomb Group, flown by Captain Iverson. Official caption on image: "(GM-1-12-96)(11-8-43)." Handwritten caption on reverse: '230412. 11/8/43 (F). MIA 4/3/44. Cpt. Iverson (P)[Pilot].'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408669.jpg.webp?itok=2wIQHtTW)
