42-31410 Berlin Bessie, I Dood It
95th BG - 336th BS
Flew 68 combat missions, including nine to Berlin 95th Bomb Group collection
Object Number - UPL 45258 - B-17G-15-BO #42-31410 "Berlin Bessie" Code_ ET-G 95th BG - 336th BS Flew 68 combat missions, including nine to Berlin
Delivered Cheyenne 31/10/43; Kearney 13/11/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-G] Horham 1/1/44; flak damage Berlin 6/10/44 with Lester Lennox, Co-pilot: Bob McCoy (2 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Bill Tate, Bombardier: Dick White, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Forest Wilmouth, Radio Operator: Cyril Cummings, Ball turret gunner: Chas O’Geen, Waist gunner: Jim Taylor, Tail gunner: Don Cairns (7 Prisoner of War); Missing Air Crew Report 9352; Salvaged battle damaged base and repaired; when parked was hit by 42-97992 15/4/45; 70m, Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 26/6/45; Love Fd 27/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 28/8/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 10/11/45. BERLIN BESSIE aka I DOOD IT.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- 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: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-749187
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20441207
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37727286
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36816132
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31013228
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade)
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 6 October 1944
- Date: 5 October 1944
- Date: 3 October 1944
- Date: 30 September 1944
- Date: 19 September 1944
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hap Hazard aka Trouble Buggy
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Assigned |
Horham Airfield, UK | 1 January 1942 | 95BG 336BS |
|
Delivered |
Cheyenne, WY | 31 October 1943 | |
|
Other 1st 95th BG Combat Mission |
Frankfurt, Germany | 29 January 1944 | |
|
Other Damaged/Returned to Base |
Berlin, Germany | 6 October 1944 | Received severe flak damage over target. All crew except pilot and co-pilot bailed out and were captured. Lennox (pilot) and McCoy (Co-Pilot) were able to return the aircraft to base. It was repaired, but it did not return to combat. The assumption is that is was used for a base hack aircraft as it was returned to the US after the war. |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 9352 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
