42-3306 Phoenix

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group crashes near Dunkirk whilst flying with a mission with B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5914), 15 August 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '385BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '25620 USAF - Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" going down over area south of Dunkirk, occupied France. U.S. Air Force Photo.' media-413759.jpg FRE 7748 A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group [42-3306] crashes near Dunkirk whilst flying with a mission with B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5914), 15 August 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '385BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '25620 USAF - Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" going down over area south of Dunkirk, occupied France. U.S. Air Force Photo.' Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo
https://www.fold3.com/image/29419192

Object Number - FRE 7748 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group [42-3306] crashes near Dunkirk whilst flying with a mission with B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number...

Delivered Cheyenne 23/5/43; Dow Fd 13/7/43; Assigned 569BS/390BG [CC-L] Framlingham 14/7/43; Missing in Action Vitry-En-Artois 15/8/43 with Bill Lawrence (Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: Bill Middledorf, Navigator: Joe Birdwell, Bombardier: Francis Harkins, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Walt Sentkoski (4 evaded capture); Radio Operator: Bill Murphy, Ball turret gunner: Bernie Stevens, Waist gunner: Pat Caron, Waist gunner: Romaine Fiffe,Tail gunner: Pete Mrjenovich (5 Killed in Action); aircraft broke in half in mid-air coll with 42-30320 over target area, crashed Bonvinchen, near St Omer, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 258. PHOENIX.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

390th Bomb Group

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

People

Joseph A Birdwell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13042980 / O-798731
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Patrick Caron

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32446513
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Romaine M Fiffe

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37228204
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Francis Xavier Harkins

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12053426 / O-735310
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Billy Clyde Lawrence

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18026239 / O-733667
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

Aircraft

B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (serial number 42-3312) nicknamed "Sequatchiee" of the 390th Bomb Group, drop bombs during a mission. The aircraft (left to right): (serial number 42-30434) nicknamed "Betty Boop" (Photographer), (serial number 42-3312) nicknamed "Sequatchiee", (serial number 42-30320) nicknamed "Coy De Coy", (serial number 42-37723) nicknamed "Coy De Coy III", (serial numer 42-30476) nicknamed "Rovin' Ramona", (serial number 42-30713) nicknamed "Phyllis Marie", (serial number 42-30455) n

42-30320

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Coy de Coy
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Francis E. Warren AFB, WY, USA 23 May 1943 Delivered Cheyenne AAF 23-May-43.

Assigned

Framlingham, Woodbridge IP13, UK 14 July 1943 Assigned 569BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

59670 Bavinchove, France 15 August 1943 Failed to Return (FTR) Missing in Action Vitry-En-Artois aircraft broke in half in mid-air coll with 42-30320 over target area, crashed Bonvinchen, near St Omer. [1 POW, 4 EVD, 5 KIA] 15-Aug-43. MACR 258.

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA, USA Built at Douglas.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/29419192

Date
ContributorRainer
Changes
Sources

Updated aircraft connections

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 258 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-3306: Gallery (2 items)

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group crashes near Dunkirk whilst flying with a mission with B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5914), 15 August 1943 Handwritten caption on reverse: '15/8/43.' Printed caption on reverse: '25620 AC - Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress going down over area south of Dunkirk, occupied France. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 7747 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group [42...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group crashes near Dunkirk whilst flying with a mission with B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5914), 15 August 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '385BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '25620 USAF - Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" going down over area south of Dunkirk, occupied France. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 7748 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group [42...