42-37822 The Lead Banana

Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a military airplane.  Four men standing to the rear, five men kneeling in front.  Large canvas bags are laying in front of kneeling men UPL 69584 UPL 69584 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 1 August 1944/Railroad Bridge, Chartres, France.
Back L-R: William Combs (P), Emil Morlan (RO), Forest Bemis (TT), Donald Ward (B).
Front L-R:: Boyce Ragsdale (BT), Kenneth Lord (N), James Fisher (FG) on his last mission, Lloyd LaChine (OBS/TG), Gerald Sammons (AC).

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Smith, via Keith Ellefson.

https://photos.384thbombgroup.com/picture.php?/109411/category/LeadCrews

544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 508 42-37822 Grafton Underwood William Felix Combs Emil C Morlan Forrest James Bemis Donald L Ward Boyce J T Ragsdale Kenneth Smith Lord James J Fisher Lloyd E LaChine Gerald B Sammons On

Object Number - UPL 69584 - 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews / 1 August 1944/Railroad Bridge, Chartres, France. Back L-R: William Combs (P), Emil Morlan (RO), Forest Bemis (TT),...

Delivered Long Beach 9/9/43; Gr Island 17/10/43; Assigned 544BS/384BG [SU-C] Grafton Underwood 12/5/44; on landing with Ray Cook the undercarriage collapsed at RAF Ringway, UK (now Manchester Aprt) 16/3/45. Salvaged AFSC 19/3/45.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32728625
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
John Halasz
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-810872
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-685154
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37556819
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Missions

  • Date: 25 February 1945
  • Date: 24 February 1945
  • Date: 22 February 1945
  • Official Description:
  • Date: 3 February 1945
  • Date: 1 February 1945

Revisions

Date
ContributorAnthony Galetto
Changes
Sources

My Grandfather, SSG Anthony Galetto, flew 2 missions on this aircraft.
Sd. Code: SU*C

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

AAIR 45-03-16-523 / Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-37822: Gallery (2 items)