42-31081 Son of a Blitz
U. S. National Archives Still Picture Branch Image 65611AC
B-17G ser. 42-31081, 'Son of A Blitz':
1. According to Boeing, it was Manuf. No. 6195, delivered September 16, 1943, 'GFE' (Gov't Furnished Equipment, Wright Field, Dayton, OH, although it may not have ever physically been there). It was camoflague color scheme.
2.Summer 1943, the (newly formed) 401st Bomb was training (before moving overseas) in WA. Its Group's 613Sq. training in Cut Bank WA, had 2nd.Lt. Russell M. Fowler Pilot and his Co-Pilot, Navigator and Flight Engineer go pick-up a/c 42-31081 in Seattle, and upon return continued training and 'tuning-up' a/c 42-31081.
3. The 2nd.Lt. Russell Fowler Crew then ferried a/c 42-31081 to Deenethorpe (with stops on St.Louis MO, Syracuse NY, Bangor ME, and Gander Bay NF (where a/c 42-31081 was fitted with a bomb bay fuel tank). Then non-stop to Prestwick Scotland. 2d Lt Russell M. Fowler (P); 2d Lt Walter J. Murphy (CP); 2d Lt Jack B. Priest (N); 2d Lt Allen G Buchanan Jr.(B); Sgt Alexander F. Tryba (ETT); Sgt Hugh W.Charnes (Rad); Sgt Charles E. Kashner (LWG); Sgt David N. Hadsell (RWG); Sgt Louis Florez (BTG); Sgt Richard V. Martinez (TG).
4. At Deenethorpe the Fowler Crew's BTG Sgt. L. Florez suggested the 'Son of A Blitz' name and the Crew agreed. Per LWG Sgt. C. Kashner: 'Son of A Blitz' was painted in script on both sides of the a/c nose and angling down to the front with a 'gremlin' riding a falling bomb rodeo style. And at each crew position, their name was printed-on in block letters on the outside of the a/c.
5. The Fowler Crew flew most of their Missions (the last May 22, 1944), in 'Son of A Blitz' as 'their' plane except when grounded for repairs; and there was an official 'Fowler Crew' photo taken in-front of 'Son of A Blitz' -- according to a Crew member. (But no copy of the photo yas been locared to-date.
6. Octiber 7, 1944, the 1st.Lt. Augustus J. Nelson Crew flew a/c 42-31081 in Squadron Deputy Lead position to Politz Ger., 401st Mission 154. [The Nelson Crew had flown in a/c 42-31081 once or twice previously]. Per the Mission Report and MACR 9757, Son of A Blitz was hit by Flak directly over the target and most of the nose blown off. Witnesses reported possibly 1-3 chutes seen. [There were none. The Crew was MIA then declared KIA: 1st.Lt. Augustus J. Nelson (P); 2nd.Lt. Edgar W. Nevois (CP); 2nd Lt. John S. Kulczycki,Jr (N); 2nd Lt. Blaine B. Wilcox (B); T/Sgt. Lawrence E. Williams (ETT); S/Sgt. John T. Dorris (Rad); S/Sgt. Bobbie D. Anderson (WG); S/Sgt. Frank R. Majeski (BTG) & S/Sgt. James J. McCarthy (TG).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36703821
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Togglier, Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38468656
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-735233
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39912984
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Missions
Related videos and documents
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52909
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No 1, 26 Nov 1943, Bremen, Germany. 0908 hours - Twenty aircraft off okay. Four of the briefed crews didn't manage to get...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52934
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 3, 5 Dec 1943, Paris, France. Aircraft 42-39825 crashed on take-off into the village of Deenethorpe. It was believed a...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52935
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 4, 11 Dec 1943, Emden, Germany. 1521 hours - All aircraft down except 42-31098 (IW-B - "Penny's Thunderhead") which...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52937
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 6, 20 Dec 1943, Bremen, Germany. Fifteen of the dispatched aircraft hit the primary target, with 14 of the Group's...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52972
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 11, 4 Jan 1944, Kiel, Germany. The lead aircraft, piloted by Capt. Garland with Major Martin as Group Air Commander...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52975
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 13, 7 Jan 1944, Ludwigshaven, Germany. Chemical works of Farbenindustrie. Nineteen aircraft were off by 0900; one later...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52976
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 14, 11 Jan 1944, Oschersleben, Germany. This was one of the greatest air battles of World War II. The Group put up the...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52979
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 17, 29 Jan 1944, Frankfurt, Germany. 35 aircraft were airborne by 0849 but five aborted the mission and returned. Air...
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 7 October 1944 |
Revisions
Moved biographical details for SOURCE information to Bio information.
The 10-man Lt. Nelson B-17 Crew arrived at Deenethorpe July 23, 1944. At that time, the 401st was flying 9-man Crews (diminished enemy air attacks), so the 2-Waist Gunners alternated Mission days flying with their Crewmates (but also flew with other Crews to keep their Mission-count up). S/Sgt. Clifford C. Newby, LWG was the 10th Crewman, did not fly Oct. 7, 1944 when the Crew was shot-down - it wasn't his turn. He went-on to fly 30-Missions, many as 'Toggelier' (in the Bombardier's position, but 'dropping' the bomb load when he saw the Lead a/c drop theirs).
Win Bryson's 2004 phone interview with Charles Kashner, LWG, 613Sq. Lt Fowler Crew - that Crew ferried 'Son of A Blitz' to Deenethorpe, named it and flew it as 'theirs' for most of their Misisons.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 9757 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database