42-3393 Just-A-Snappin'

media-55396.jpeg UPL 55396 42-3393 - 'Just A Snappin'.

Removed associations not depicted in the image.

Object Number - UPL 55396 - 42-3393 - 'Just A Snappin'.

Just-A-Snappin is best remembered for bringing her crew back from Bremen on 8th October 1943, despite being badly damaged and with wounded men onboard. Damage to the hydraulics rendered the brakes inoperable and the B-17 crashed into a lone oak tree in a field near Ludham, close to Thorpe Abbotts.  

Delivered Denver 1/6/43; Dow Field 1/7/43; Assigned 418BS/100BG [LD-Y] Thorpe Abbotts 5/7/43; battle damaged Bremen 8/10/43 with following crew:

1st Lt Everett E.Blakely, Pilot

2nd Lt Charles A.Via,Jr., Co-Pilot

1st Lt Harry Crosby, Navigator 

2nd Lt James R.Douglass, Bombardier

T/Sgt Monroe B.Thornton, Top Turret Gunner/Engineer

T/Sgt Edmund G.Forkner, Radio Operator/Gunner 

S/Sgt William F. McClelland, Ball Turret Gunner

S/Sgt Edward S. Yevich, Waist Gunner

S/Sgt Lyle E.Nord, Tail Gunner

S/Sgt Lester W.Saunders, Waist Gunner

Connections

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

Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

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

People

Everett Ernest Blakely

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Commanding Officer
Major Harry Crosby, 100th Bomb Group

Harry Herbert Crosby

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-731272
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Navigator

James R Douglass

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Major John C. Egan, of the 100th Bomb Group, wearing a fez on his return from the Regensburg Shuttle mission. Associated News Story: '"Arabian Knights Return": Men Who Made Shuttle-Bombing Raid On Regensburg. Wearing red fezes and carrying Arabian knives, the first contingent of airmen who participated in the shuttle-bombing raid on Regensburg returned from their temporary North African bases yesterday, August 22 - five days after the heavy attack on the Nazis' largest aircraft Messerschmidt factory. No b

John Clarence Egan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-399510
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Squadron Commander

Edmund C Forkner

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Places

Missions

Revisions

Date
ContributorHattie
Changes
Sources
Date
ContributorHattie
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Sources
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to Mission "VIII Bomber Command 111" per info in the A/C Description section.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a unit connection to the 8th AF.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography".

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a unit connection to the 418th BS mentioned in the A/C "Description".

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Sources

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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added 3 nicknames mentioned in the A/C “Description”.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

42-3393: Gallery (4 items)

Object number: UPL 55396 - 42-3393 - 'Just A Snappin'.

Object number: UPL 55397 - Just A Snappin Crew on October 8, 1943 mission to...

Object number: UPL 55411 - Just A Snappin after the Bremen Mission October 8...

Object number: UPL 55412 - Crew of Just A Snappin on the Bremen Mission...