42-31511 Fools Luck III

Object Number - UPL 41696 - The first crew of the 401st Bomb Group to return to the home base in England after a raid on Berlin, Germany, pose beside their plane - the Boeing...

Delivered Denver 16/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Presque Is 9/12/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-D] Deenethorpe 1/1/44; Missing in Action Evere A/fd 10/4/44 with Gaston Fox, Co-pilot: Francis Hoad, Navigator: Darrel Wilson, Bombardier: Leon Mendelson, Ball turret gunner: Don Van Booven, Waist gunner: Chas Sierra (6 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Allen Brown, Radio Operator: Duane Brandt, Waist gunner: Joe Gallas, Tail gunner: Cecil Estess (4 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, ditched Channel, three miles W of Calais, Fr; Missing Air Crew Report 3939. FOOLS LUCK III.

Connections

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

Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'

401st Bomb Group

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

People

Joseph Roscoe Amber

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36703821
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Togglier, Waist Gunner

Donald M Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735233
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator; Bombardier

Clifford Eugene Barker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35368934
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade)
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Duane Gibbons Brandt

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39193489
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Allen Doyle Brown

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38294097
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Denver AAF, CO 16 November 1943 Delivered Denver AAF 16-Nov-43.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

3 miles W of Calais 10 April 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Evere Airfield 10-Apr-44 with Fox crew; downed by enemy aircraft, ditched, three miles W of Calais, France; 6 x POW, 4 x KIA MACR 3939

Assigned

Deenethorpe, UK Assigned 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date17 May 2022 12:58:36
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/29638088

Date14 Sep 2021 21:31:11
Contributoracbernstein1
Sources

http://401bg.org/Main/History/Aircraft/Details.aspx?ID=31511

Date23 Feb 2020 13:23:05
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/29638088

Date19 Jan 2020 23:45:56
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” for clarity.

Date18 Jan 2020 04:59:00
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

Added the nickname mentioned in the A/C “Description”.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:38
ContributorAAM
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3939 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-31511: Gallery (11 items)

Object number: UPL 41696 - The first crew of the 401st Bomb Group to return...