42-30705 Ther-N-Bak
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A19249-B26818AC.
B-17F 42-30705 "Ther-N-Bak" of the 414th Bomb Sq, 97th BG went down on 27 November 1943 on a mission to the marshalling yards at Rimini, Italy. Savaged by enemy fighters, only two crewmen were able to bail out before she exploded. Co pilot Cpt Marvin M Waldroup, Jr, and right waist gunner S/Sgt Joseph S Christie, Jr, both seriously wounded, became POWs for the duration.
Object Number - UPL 19199 - "Bomb away! The first bomb to drop on Toulon is on its way as USAAF Flying Fortresses reach the target: Nazi submarine pens". NARA Ref...
Delivered Denver 15/7/43; Colorado Springs 16/7/43; Kearney 6/8/43; Topeka 12/8/43; Scott 17/8/43; Assigned 347BS/99BG Oudna 31/8/43; transferred 414BS/97BG Depienne 14/11/43; Missing in Action Rimini 27/11/43 with Capt Marvin Waldroup, Co-pilot: Oscar Stedman, Navigator: George Shube, Bombardier: Walter Parks, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Shipe, Radio Operator: Clarry Vaughn, Ball turret gunner: Joe Christie, Waist gunner: Jim Melton, Waist gunner: Jim Sandiford,Tail gunner: Melton Snyder 10MIA); enemy aircraft, crashed Rimini; Missing Air Crew Report 1303.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379318.jpg.webp?itok=n7iztoxa)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed |
Rimini RN, Italy | 27 November 1943 | Went down on 27 November 1943 on a mission to the marshalling yards at Rimini, Italy. Savaged by enemy fighters, only two crewmen were able to bail out before she exploded. Copilot Capt Marvin M. Waldroup, Jr, and right waist gunner S/Sgt Joseph S. Christie, Jr, both seriously wounded, became POWs for the duration. |
