42-31087 Heaven Can Wait, Boche Buster

media-52568.jpeg UPL 52568 AC # 42-31087, 'Heaven Can Wait' 'Boche Buster', 401st Bomb Group, 26 June 1944

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/204882232

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

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

Jessie H Lehr

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34473124
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Leo Irvin Lingenfelter

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33068238 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Douglas H McKinnon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-752008
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Thomas B Montgomery

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-686111
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Alfred J Morini

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32492617
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Missions

Eleven men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane. Five men standing to the rear and six men kneeling in front. Some of the men are wearing flying gear. There is also some gear lying in front of the men.

531

  • Date: 8 August 1944
A B-24 Liberator of the 492nd Bomb Group bombs a target near Hamburg. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAF- 492nd BG showing successful result on oil target near Hamburg, 6 Aug 1944.'

524

  • Date: 6 August 1944
A mission log for Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst of the 91st Bomb Group, 3 August 1944 -15 December 1944. Image via Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst, 91st Bomb Group.

519

  • Date: 5 August 1944
B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th Bomb Group fly in formation.

514

  • Date: 4 August 1944
A mission log for Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst of the 91st Bomb Group, 3 August 1944 -15 December 1944. Image via Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst, 91st Bomb Group.

512

  • Date: 3 August 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 7 October 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://401bg.org/Main/History/Aircraft/Details.aspx?ID=31087

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://401bg.org/Main/History/Aircraft/Details.aspx?ID=31087

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://401bg.org/Main/History/Aircraft/Details.aspx?ID=31087

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://401bg.org/Main/History/Aircraft/Details.aspx?ID=31087

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://401bg.org/Main/History/Aircraft/Details.aspx?ID=31087

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a unit connection to the 8th AF.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added 2 spaces in the A/C “Description” for clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added the nicknames mentioned in the A/C “Description”.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 9758 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-31087: Gallery (15 items)