42-30454 | American Air Museum

42-30454

media-38637.jpeg UPL 38637 Reluctant Dragon

Found in an unmarked digital archive

Object Number - UPL 38637 - Reluctant Dragon

Delivered Cheyenne 3/6/43; Smoky Hill 14/6/43; Rapid City 19/6/43; Geiger 22/6/43; Smoky Hill 23/6/43; Dow Fd 5/7/43; Assigned 333BS/94BG [TS-B] Rougham 7/7/43; Missing in Action Emden 9/27/43 with Pilot: John Thalman (Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Wendell Morris, Navigator: John Lilly, Bombardier: John White, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Fred Belcher, Radio Operator: Lester Exelberth, Ball turret gunner: Jim Harling, left waist gunner: Bill Gray, right waist gunner: Clarence "Bill" Carter, Tail gunner: Ed Schaler (9 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, ditched North Sea, about ten miles NW of Emden, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 733.

Connections

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Units served with

A B-17 Flying Fortress (TS-C, serial number 42-9768) of the 333rd Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group, takes off in front of another B-17 Flying Fortress (CC-Z) of the 569th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group.

333rd Bomb Squadron

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

A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'

94th Bomb Group

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

People

Fred L Belcher

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Clarence W Carter

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: waist gunner

Lester Exelberth

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Wilbur W Gray

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Sergeant
Role/Job: waist gunner

James C Harling

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Places

Aerial photography Bury St Edmunds (Rougham) airfield, looking north, the technical site and T2 hangar are to the right, 7 June 1946. Photograph taken by No. 540 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1557. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Bury St Edmunds

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Rougham

Missions

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

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Manslagt, Germany

27 September 1943

Revisions

Date15 Jun 2019 23:28:06

Contributordlilly

Changes

Sources

David Lilly ( Son of John Lilly)

Date27 May 2019 20:25:34

Contributordlilly

Changes

Sources

corrected Missing in action date, referencing air force missing AC report document

Date2 Apr 2017 01:14:00

ContributorStarlifter141

Changes

Sources

Nick Carter April 1, 2017

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:29

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 733 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-30454: Gallery (4 items)

Object number: UPL 27419 - Aircraft Downing report for Reluctant Dragon

Object number: UPL 38636 - Casualty report from Airforce records

Object number: UPL 38637 - Reluctant Dragon

Object number: UPL 50542 - Thalmann Crew, 94th BG. 18 Aug. 1943 STANDING LEFT...