42-3111 The Brass Rail, Local Girl
Object Number - UPL 50996 - 'Local Girl' aka 'The Brass Rail' (42-3111) 324th BS, 91st BG B-17F-25-DL 91/324-AI DF-A Originally assigned to the 335th Bomb Squadron in May...
Delivered Cheyenne 16/2/43; Gore Fd 7/3/43; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-T] Alconbury 5/43; THE BRASS RAIL 6 missions. Transferred 324BS/91 [DF-A1] Bassingbourn 16/6/43; Missing in Action on its 8th mission, target Emden, on 27/9/43 with Bill Pegram, Navigator: Bob Cosgrove & Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Vernon Larson (drowned when chute cords tangled in fishing aids), Waist gunner: Melvin Peters who fired till the end (4 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Bill Martin, Bombardier: Norman Eatinger (saved by Dutch fishermen), Radio Operator: Orlo Natvig, Ball turret gunner: Paul Ayala, Waist gunner: Fred Hutchinson, Tail gunner: Gordon Noel (6 Prisoner of War); Me 109s set #2 ablaze, pilot held controls while crew bailed over Geefsweer, near Delfzijl, Holland. Missing Air Crew Report 667. LOCAL GIRL.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12165832
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34262740
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19122414
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-683178
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
![Staff Sergeant Donald W. Crossley, a tail gunner of the 95th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/9/43.' A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse of print, this has been lost, however considering the publication date, press agency and subject matter this was likely to have read: 'AWARDS TO THE HIGH-SCORING GUNNER. The Distinguished Flying Cross and an oak leaf cluster- the equivalent](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379270.jpg.webp?itok=7S4HAZqB)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15107390
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade)
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 27 September 1943
- Date: 11 June 1943
- Date: 29 May 1943
![An Airman of the 305th Bomb Group in his quarters Passed for publication 2 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2/6/43.' Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Daily Sketch, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407722.jpg.webp?itok=Ukic2OZh)
- Date: 21 May 1943
- Date: 15 May 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
Delfzijl, Netherlands | 27 September 1943 - 27 September 1943 | Missing in Action 8m Emden 27/9/43. Bf109's set #2 ablaze, pilot held controls while crew bailed over Emscr Geefsweer, near Delfzijl, Holland. (6 x POW, 4 x KIA) Missing Air Crew Report MACR 667. |
|
Manufactured |
GEEFSWEER | 27 September 1943 | Picture of the wreck: https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/airwar-ww2-the-pilots.54010/page-28#post-1624885 |
Revisions
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 667 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
