42-3111 | American Air Museum

42-3111 The Brass Rail, Local Girl

media-50996.jpeg 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 1943, this aircraft was later transferred to the 324th BS, 91st BG based at Bassingbourn. Renamed "Local Girl," it was lost over Emden 27 September 1943, crashing at Geefsweer, Holland.
THESE ARE REPORTEDLY PHOTOS TAKEN FROM THE CRASH SITE OF "LOCAL GIRL."

http://www.91stbombgroup.com/photo_history/local_girl_story_crash.html

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

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

Units served with

324th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

335th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

Staff Sergeant Rich, a top turret gunner of the 95th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97232 ) nicknamed "Sandy's Refueling Boys", August 1944. Image via Albert Keeler, 95th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'S/Sgt Rich top turret gunner 412 BS.'

412th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

91st Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

95th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Paul R Ayala

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 12165832
Highest Rank: Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Levi Humes Carter

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 34262740
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Porter Dudley Clemens

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 19122414
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Robert S Cosgrove

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

Donald William Crossley

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

Alconbury

Site type: Airfield

Bassingbourn

Site type: Airfield

Missions

The wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5888) nicknamed "Elusive Elcy" of the 94th Bomb Group flies off as a result of a direct hit, during a mission over Emden. Handwritten caption on reverse: '94 BG. 27/9/43.' Printed caption on reverse: 'A DRAMATIC INCIDENT DURING THE AIR WAR OVER EUROPE: A WING BREAKS OFF A FLYING FORTRESS DURING A DAYLIGHT BATTLE, AND THE STRICKEN BOMBER BEGINS TO TURN OVER AS IT STARTS ON THE WAY DOWN TO EARTH. This picture illustrates one of the hazards which the big A

VIII Bomber Command 104

Date: 27 September 1943

VIII Bomber Command 62

Date: 11 June 1943

VIII Bomber Command 61

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].

VIII Bomber Command 60

Date: 21 May 1943

VIII Bomber Command 57

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

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

Date24 Nov 2022 03:11:10

Contributoracbernstein1

Changes

Sources

95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation

Date24 Nov 2022 03:08:17

Contributoracbernstein1

Changes

Sources

95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation

Date17 May 2022 18:37:35

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to unit associations

Sources

AAM DB Entry Correction.

Date22 Jul 2021 17:53:08

Contributoracbernstein1

ChangesChanges to nicknames

Sources

https://b17flyingfortress.de

Date10 Mar 2021 11:09:18

ContributorSnautzer

ChangesChanges to events

Sources

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/airwar-ww2-the-pilots.54010/page-…

Date14 Dec 2015 14:34:38

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to unit associations

Sources

AAM DB Entry Correction.

Date7 Dec 2015 14:14:32

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to production block number, nicknames, markings, description, events, unit associations, place associations and mission associations

Sources

AAM DB Entry.
http://95thbg.org/j3migr/95thbg-aircraft/95th-b-17-s-1942

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:36

ContributorAAM

ChangesAAM ingest

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 667 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-3111: Gallery (5 items)

Object number: UPL 50996 -

Object number: UPL 50997 -

Object number: UPL 50998 -

Object number: UPL 50999 -

Object number: UPL 51000 -