42-31098 Penny's Thunderhead
Delivered Cheyenne 20/9/43; Gt Falls 2/10/32; Scott 25/10/43; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-B] Deenethorpe 30/10/43; Missing in Action Emden 11/12/43 with Dick Kaufman, Bombardier: Bob Fitzgerald (2 Returned to Duty), Co-pilot: Fred Robinson (washed up Oosterbierum, Hol. 9/3/44), Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Howard Shaw (washed up Terschelling Is. 22/6/44), Ball turret gunner: Forrest Cope, Waist gunner: Tage Nielsen, Waist gunner: Henry Bargfrede (washed up 14/6/44), Tail gunner: Ed Masterman (6 Killed in Action), Navigator: John Barrett, Radio Operator: Don Carlson (2 POW - picked up by life-boat Twente from Harlingen). Sustained battle damage and three bailed, thinking ship doomed, but pilot & bombardier brought ship back to RAF Lindholme, Yorks. Missing Air Crew Report 8711. Take-off as spare for mission 26/3/44 with Carleton Wilson, Co-pilot: Curtis Kelley, Navigator: John Connery, Bombardier: Francis Fogarty, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Quinn, Radio Operator: Carl Anderson, Ball turret gunner: Bill Passeno, Waist gunner: Jim McMahon, Waist gunner: George Smith,Tail gunner: Gerald Smith (10 Returned to Duty); turned back over Channel, then burst a tyre on landing. PENNY'S THUNDERHEAD.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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 614th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35612826
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 683892
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-809538
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Places

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Missions

- Date: 26 March 1944
- Date: 24 March 1944
- Date: 23 March 1944
- Date: 16 March 1944
- Date: 13 March 1944
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
HMP Lindhome, Bawtry Road, Hatfield, Doncaster DN7 6EE, UK | 11 December 1943 | Then RAF Lindholme |
Revisions
Added connections to airmen's records from information in biography field.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 8711 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database