42-38053 Jenny Lee aka Cap'n Crow
Object Number - UPL 15857 - B17 42-38053, Cap'n Crow
Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; Wendover 20/12/43; Assigned 457BG Glatton 10/2/44; transferred 349BS/100BG [XR-G] Thorpe Abbotts 21/1/44; soon after t/off to Berlin 7/5/44 with Ralph Wright, Co-pilot: Jack Raper, Navigator: Rich Curran, Bombardier: Carl Herman, Waist gunner: Randy Moore (5 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Alden Madsen, Radio Operator: Bob Montonado, Ball turret gunner: John Pontzious, Waist gunner: Jack Willburn, Tail gunner: Alf Bridges (5 RTD all inj); flares began to explode en route, fire broke out and ship crashed Herringfleet Hall, Lowestoft, Sfk. UK; sal 8/5/44. JENNY LEE aka CAP’N CROW.
(Note) - Given the position of the cheek guns in the two photos (Cap'n Crow and Jenny Lee), I don't believe that they are of the same aircraft. "Jenny Lee" appears in at least one 398th BG crew photo taken stateside, probably at Rapid City.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg.webp?itok=HBB0lqjl)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-682134
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-703958
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-756879
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Connington
- Site type: Aircraft crash site
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
26 November 1943 | ||
|
Crashed |
7 May 1944 | Several dozen flares stored in the top turret suddenly began to explode and set fire to the entire front of the plane. |
Revisions
Added a space before the words “Tail gunner” in the A/C “Description” section.
Updated the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.
See FLYING FORTRESS 1936 - 1945
for block identification features.
Phil Marchese
Harold Becker was not "Killed in B-17G #42-38053 'Hard Luck' in take-off or assembly accident" as stated
B17 #42-38053 was "Cap'n Crow" not 'Hard Luck'
The five men killed in B17, 42-38053 are clearly named on the memorial and Harold Becker is not among them.
Added crash site and crash event from caption information and https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_bombgrp&view=aircraft&id=10133…
Associated crew members from https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_bombgrp&view=personnel&Itemid=…
