42-31084
Delivered Cheyenne 16/9/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG Knettishall 9/10/43; Missing in Action Bremen 20/12/43 with Ken Eccleston, Co-pilot: Pete Schou, Navigator: John Dorsett, Bombardier: Tom Tollin, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Molinari, Radio Operator: George Doyle, Ball turret gunner: Dave Holliman, Waist gunner: Ivan Clark, Waist gunner: Dave Ceely,Tail gunner: Chas Bein (10 Killed in Action); intense flak, crashed Vegasack, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 3154.
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: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37111609
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12162589
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33219803
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-797283
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18079857
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 20 December 1943
- Date: 16 December 1943
- Date: 13 December 1943
![Personnel of the 94th Bomb Group at a mission briefing. A censor has obscured the maps and charts in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press'[stamp],'Passed for publication 14 December 1943.'[stamp] '296691.'[Censor no] Printed caption on reverse: 'Operations Room at US Air Base. Preparing for take off. Associated Press photo shows: Col.F. W. Castle, Group Commanding Officer, gives the massed crews of the base the last part of the briefing, and a personal 'Godspeed' and 'Good Luck' in](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408449.jpg.webp?itok=nKEJNh_9)
- Date: 11 December 1943
- Date: 5 December 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
Cheyenne, WY, USA | 16 September 1943 | |
|
Assigned |
Knettishall, Diss IP22 2TH, UK | 9 October 1943 | 388 BG 561 BS |
|
Other First 388th BG Combat Mission |
Münster, Germany | 11 November 1943 | The Kenneth Eccleston Crew flew her on 9 of her 11 combat mssions |
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany | 20 December 1943 | Flak at the Target area was very intense and every plane suffered battle damage. Lt. Eccleston, in a/c 42-31084, was lost due to this flak; and, when last seen at 1212 hours, he was going down with his bomb bay doors open and on fire. |
Revisions
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3154 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database