42-31115 | American Air Museum

42-31115 Hells Belles

Delivered Cheyenne 21/9/43; Gr Island 6/10/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 25/10/43; Missing in Action Brunswick 10/2/44 with Jim Feeney - not found till 25/2/44, Radio Operator: Norman Kajut, Waist gunner: Marion Forbis, Tail gunner: Lou LeFevre (4 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Sam Gundy, Navigator: Sam Simon, Bombardier: John Drickson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Ball, Ball turret gunner: Walt Lennons, Waist gunner: Joe Smith, foto-Oscar Land (7 Prisoner of War); flak, on return crashed Hoogendijk, near Uitgeest, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 2348. HELL'S BELLS.

Connections

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Units served with

People

Louis Martin LeFevre

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 39255078
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Walter J Lennous

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 35381277
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene". Printed caption on reverse: '61552 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Charlene". England. 30 August 1943. Standing left to right are: 2nd Lt John N Harlan, Boise, Idaho; 1st Lt Charles Bliss, Los Angeles, California; 2nd Lt Vernon D Dunkin, Columbus, Ohio; 2nd Lt Bernard J Quenneville, Hadley, Mass. Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt Ro

Herman B Mays

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 35506013
Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Daniel J Norton

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 447th Bomb Group 711th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 32099351
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Larry C Parrish

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 35492453
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Missions

VIII Bomber Command 154

Date: 13 December 1943

Personnel of the 94th Bomb Group at a mission briefing. A censor has obscured the maps and charts in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press'[stamp],'Passed for publication 14 December 1943.'[stamp] '296691.'[Censor no] Printed caption on reverse: 'Operations Room at US Air Base. Preparing for take off. Associated Press photo shows: Col.F. W. Castle, Group Commanding Officer, gives the massed crews of the base the last part of the briefing, and a personal 'Godspeed' and 'Good Luck' in

VIII Bomber Command 151

Date: 11 December 1943

A B-24 Liberator nicknamed "The Oklahoman", piloted by Lieutenant Mason of the 389th Bomb Group bursts into flame during a mission, 5 December 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '5/12/43B - 3, 147. 147/RFWD148. 389 BG B-24 struck by flak and destroyed 12/5/43.'

VIII Bomber Command 149

Date: 5 December 1943

VIII Bomber Command 140

Date: 29 November 1943

VIII Bomber Command 138

Date: 26 November 1943

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Delivered	Cheyenne, WY, USA	21 September 1943
Assigned	Knettishall, Diss IP22 2TH, UK	25 October 1943	388 BG 562 BS
Other First 388th BG Combat Mission	Bremen, Germany	26 November 1943
Other Failed to Return (FTR)	Hoogendijk, Netherlands	10 February 1944	Damaged by flak. Crashed

Revisions

Date27 Sep 2020 20:01:53

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date29 Dec 2017 02:39:04

Contributor466thHistorian

Changes

Sources

http://www.388bg.info/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=42-31115&da…
B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman
page 155

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:36

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1769 / MACR 2348 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database