42-31007
Delivered Cheyenne 3/9/43; Gr Isle 27/9/43; Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-F] Thurleigh 13/10/43; Missing in Action Frankfurt 4/2/44 with Chas Berry, Co-pilot: Norman Laux, Navigator: Paul Jones, Bombardier: Brian James, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Leo Wells, Radio Operator: Chas Zubov, Ball turret gunner: Jim Simon (7 Killed in Action); Waist gunner: George Kessel, Waist gunner: Opal Hunter, Tail gunner: Ray Sokolowski (3 Prisoner of War); direct flak hit on wing, rolled over and snapped in half at the ball turret, crashed Voiswinkel, near Bergisch Gladbach, ten miles NE of Cologne, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 2239.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-802897
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18050786
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-749777
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-809516
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35369170
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Places
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
Voiswinkel near Bergisch Gladbach | 4 February 1944 - 4 February 1944 | Received a flak hit in the right wing, rolled over to the right, entered a flat spin and broke in two at about the ball turret. |