42-3413 Hard Luck !

42-3413 in flight UPL 25803 UPL 25803 42-3413 in flight
Hutchinson & Cortright

100th BG Website

Off

Object Number - UPL 25803 - 42-3413 in flight

Delivered Dallas 10/6/43; Dow Fd 18/8/43; Assigned 350BS/100BG [LN-V] Thorpe Abbotts 20/8/43; on mission to Berlin 7/5/44 with Loren Van Steenis, Navigator: Harry Becker (Killed in Action), Bombardier: Lester Torbett Wounded in Action, (8 Returned to Duty); Missing in Action SW Germany oil plants 14/8/44 with Don Cielewich, Co-pilot: Lenard Moen, Navigator: Clifford Brown, Bombardier: John Cochran, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Cyrenne Ropson, Radio Operator: Ben Baldasano, Ball turret gunner: John Funkhouser, Waist gunner: Herb Klepp, Tail gunner: Henry Sytnik (9 Prisoner of War); flak KO’d engine and fire spread and crew all bailed OK, aircraft skidded into farm and killed 10 civilians after crashed at Falken-Gesass, near Beerfeld, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 7899. HARD LUCK !

Connections

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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

Benjamin Michael Baldasano

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33053006
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Harold Charles Becker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-682134
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Earl V Benham

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner

Clifford J Brown

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-559633
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Edward Charles Butchino

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31167562
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 14 August 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-3413-hard-luck/

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

https://web.archive.org/web/20080208073233/http://www.web-birds.com/8th…

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the A/C "Description" - "Baldasano" was misspelled.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added an association to the 8th AF per MACR 7899.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 7899 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-3413: Gallery (3 items)

A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 100th Bomb Group fly in formation. B-17 (serial number 42-3413) nicknamed "Hard Luck" is the foremost aircraft, with B-17 (serial number 42-31991) nicknamed "Miss Chief" flying alongside in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: '23413 "Hard Luck" with the 350th Squadron. Above and just ahead 231991 "Miss Chief" served until the end of the hostilities.'

Object number: FRE 907 - A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 100th...

42-3413 in flight

Object number: UPL 25803 - 42-3413 in flight

Object number: UPL 50283 - B-17 42-3413 "Hard Luck" Ground crew of 'Hard Luck...