42-31087 Heaven Can Wait, Boche Buster
Object Number - UPL 52568 - AC # 42-31087, 'Heaven Can Wait' 'Boche Buster', 401st Bomb Group, 26 June 1944
Delivered Cheyenne 17/9/43; Gt Falls 28/9/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-K] Deenethorpe 26/10/43; Missing in Action Politz 7/10/44 with Tom Hill, Wilbur Schmedel, Theo Block, Junius Chadwick, Jim Mullins, Vic Shewbert, Ed Hellenbeck, Buddy Keith, Omer Richardson (9 INT); flak, force landed Bredakara, Swe; 9 INT; Missing Air Crew Report 9758. HEAVEN CAN WAIT aka BOCHE BUSTER. Left Sweden 13/5/45. Credited with 73 missions, including 67 successive missions without an abort.
Damaged by flak and force landed in Sweden. Returned from Sweden on 13 May 1945.
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: 32583791
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-718225
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 612th Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14102714 / O-771868
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Missions
- Date: 7 October 1944
- Date: 6 October 1944
- Date: 30 September 1944
- Date: 28 September 1944
- Date: 27 September 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 7 October 1944 |
Revisions
Added 2 spaces in the A/C “Description” for clarity.
Added the nicknames mentioned in the A/C “Description”.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 9758 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
