42-37893 'Bam Bam'
Object Number - UPL 60523 - B-17 42-37893 'Bam Bam'
Delivered Denver 5/10/43; Gr Island 20/10/43;
Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-O] Molesworth 18/11/43;
Crashed on take off for Nantes 10/6/44, with Sam Oliver, Co-pilot: Stan Shankweiler, Radio Operator: John Kissling, Ball turret gunner: Francis Russell, Waist gunner: Americo Imbrogno, Waist gunner: Bob Scalco (6 Killed in Service); Navigator: Earl Metko, Bombardier: Harry Chapple, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Whitney Haskell, Tail gunner: Wayne Humphries (4 Returned to Duty); aircraft went into a dive then a spin, followed by bomb load exploding, blowing off tail, crashed Gt Gidding, Hunts. UK; Salvaged 2 SAD. BAM BAM.
Second Lieutenant Spiros P Contos was part of the original crew but was not on the final flight.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- 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: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-761401
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-709295
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39907965
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12181349
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 11 January 1944 |
Revisions
Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Removed association to 401st Bomb Group/615th Bomb Squadron. Replaced with association to 303rd Bomb Group/358th Bomb Squadron as per Biography field.
See also: http://www.303rdbg.com/358oliver.html#
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2505 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
