42-31384 Buckeye Babe

Delivered Cheyenne 20/10/43; Gr Island 12/11/43; Romulus 4/12/43.

Assigned 509BS/351BG [RQ-T] Polebrook 20/1/44.



Missing in Action 103m Paderborn 17/1/45 with Marius Della-Cieppe, Co-pilot: Dell Harvey, Navigator: Spurgeon Clark, Bombardier: Walt Saltys, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dick Smith, Radio Operator: Ed Venezia, Ball turret gunner: George Shearer, Waist gunner: Herman Fancher, Tail gunner: Jim Fager (9 Prisoner of War); en route to target, three engines threw oil and losing height, force landed in Nienborg 48619 near the Dutch border.



Missing Air Crew Report 12000. BUCKEYE BABE.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-705217
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 2057867
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17142983
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34816326
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return

Nienborg, Germany 17 January 1945

Revisions

Date
Contributormesen17
Changes
Sources

found parts of B-17 aircraft in field in Nienborg, locals still remember B-17 going down, also written in towns history book, date is correct, air survilliance fotos from March 1945 proof als crash site

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added nickname to the nickname field.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 12000 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database