42-37781 Silver Dollar

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

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.

384th Bomb Group

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

People

Harold John Bertram

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Alfred Alme David

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Martin J Duddy

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Peter Gudyka

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-669278
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Emmet F Hardy

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39830126
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Military Occupation Specialty 612 - Tail Gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 9 March 1944

Revisions

Date4 Mar 2020 01:41:54
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

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

Date18 Jan 2015 19:10:05
Contributorbombercommand
Sources

384thbombgroup.com

Date18 Jan 2015 19:03:56
Contributorbombercommand
Sources

384thbombgroup.com

Date16 Dec 2014 02:23:38
Contributorbombercommand
Sources

www.384thbombgroup.com

Date1 Oct 2014 13:15:39
Contributormatt384
Sources

From 384th website picture library; http://gallery2.384thbombgroup.com/v/384thWWII/Aircraft/B-17G-Aircraft/…

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:45
ContributorAAM
Sources

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

42-37781: Gallery (9 items)

A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'

Object number: FRE 1282 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.

Object number: FRE 9709 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group...

Object number: UPL 12948 - Arthur John Osepchook, Ball Turret Gunner, 546th...

Object number: UPL 21989 - Bruce Martin Rininsland - Muscatine, 384th BG, KIA

Object number: UPL 29926 - Crew of the Silver Dollar

Object number: UPL 29927 - Emmet F Hardy (KIA) 9 March 1944 10 were on board...

Object number: UPL 44584 - B-17 42-37781 "Silver Dollar"

Object number: UPL 7455 - Nose art on 42-37781. Following a routine practice...