42-37781 Silver Dollar
384thbombgroup.com
Object Number - UPL 7455 - Nose art on 42-37781. Following a routine practice mission on 26 December 1943, the right main landing gear would not extend. The Pilot, George...
Delivered Denver 26/8/43; Gr Island 18/9/43; Assigned 303BG Molesworth 19/10/43; 1 BAD 23/10/43; transferred 546BS/384BG [BK-U] Grafton Underwood 2/11/43, after 544/5BS; Missing in Action Berlin 9/3/44 with Merlin H. Reed, Co-pilot: Bruce M. Rininsland, Navigator: Pete Gudyka, Bombardier: John L. Heiss, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Robert O. Johnson, Radio Operator: Robert F. Wellman, Waist gunner: Joseph Jacobson, Tail gunner: Emmett F. Hardy (8 Killed in Action); Ball turret gunner: Arthur John Osepchook, Waist gunner: John J. Plotz (2 Prisoner of War); hit by bomb from above from 379BG which knocked off tailplane, crashed Marienfeld, near Berlin; Missing Air Crew Report 3005. SILVER DOLLAR.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- 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: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-686446
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11091685
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31083170
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-669278
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39830126
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 9 March 1944
![A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380068.jpg.webp?itok=3h76SN3N)
- Date: 8 March 1944
- Date: 6 March 1944
- Date: 24 December 1943
- Date: 20 December 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 9 March 1944 |
Revisions
Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
From 384th website picture library; http://gallery2.384thbombgroup.com/v/384thWWII/Aircraft/B-17G-Aircraft/…
AAIR 43-12-26-507 / Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3005 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
