42-31651 Decatur Deb
Delivered Cheyenne 1/12/43; Gowen 5/12/43; Salt Lake 6/12/43; Rock Springs 7/12/43; Laramie 9/12/43; Cheyenne 10/12/43; Kearney 17/12/43; Romulus 6/1/44; Presque Is 9/1/44; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-G] Framlingham 18/1/44; when fire broke out on end of runway 30/4/44 Lt Louis Matthews ran into prop (Killed in Service); Missing in Action Koenigsburg (22m) 28/5/44 with Herb Strate, Co-pilot: Sam Elliott, Navigator: Dick Brown, Bombardier: Bob Woolfolk, Radio Operator: Nick Mamula, Ball turret gunner: Arthur Reed, Waist gunner: Bob Smart (7 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ed Stoy, Waist gunner: Harry Bolton, Tail gunner: Ed Molenock (3 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, fire in cockpit and part of vertical stabilizer shot away, went into spin, exploded, wings came off as ship went down and crashed Ebendorf, two miles NW of Magdeburg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 5259. DECATUR DEB.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38286042 T43-3
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33420857
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is
Missions
- Date: 28 May 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 28 May 1944 |