42-38143

Delivered Cheyenne 26/12/43; Savannah 17/1/44; Assigned 775BS/463BG Celone 9/3/44; loaned to 49BS/2BG Amendola, Missing in Action 19/3/44 with 97BG on familiarization mission with Keith Chambers, Co-pilot: Melvin Wagner, Navigator: Harry Wolquitt [463BG], Bombardier: Fred Lawson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Babek, Radio Operator: Adam Sokolowski, Ball turret gunner: Albt Gricius, Waist gunner: Francis Delap, Waist gunner: Bob Bredesen, Tail gunner: Rich Goldsmith (10 Killed in Action); mid-air coll with #42-31823 (463BG); ditched Adriatic Sea. MACR 3286.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

2nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-5287) of the 463rd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight with open bomb bay doors. Handwritten caption on reverse: '463 BG Gills.'

463rd Bomb Group

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

49th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

James Loyce Babek

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18191337
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer

Robert Bredesen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16110678
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Keith M Chambers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-748359
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Francis D Delap

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17130373
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Richard Goldsmith

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39379395
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-5287) of the 463rd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight with open bomb bay doors. Handwritten caption on reverse: '463 BG Gills.'

Celone

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Foggia Satellite #1, San Nicola-d'Arpi

Aircraft

42-31823

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 341st Bomb Squadron 463rd Bomb Group 772nd Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

722, 6207 Missile Dr, Cheyenne, WY 82005, USA 26 December 1943 Delivered Cheyenne AAF 26-Dec-43.

Assigned

Via S. Severo, km. 4, 71121 Foggia FG, Italy 9 March 1944 Assigned 775BS/463BG Celone 9/3/44.

Crashed

Gulf of Manfredonia, Italy 19 March 1944 Missing in Action 19-Mar-44 on familiarisation mission mid air collision with 42-38123 (2BG); crashed Adriatic Sea; MACR 3286.

Manufactured

Seattle, WA, USA Built at Boeing.

Assigned

71040 Amendola FG, Italy Loaned to 49BS, 2BG Amendola Mar-44.

Revisions

Date19 May 2022 10:07:21
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28623608

Date30 Apr 2021 18:18:51
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

Corrected a typo in the A/C "Description" - "familiarization " was misspelled.

Date28 Aug 2020 02:36:32
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

Added a space in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date28 Aug 2020 02:26:26
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

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

Date3 Sep 2017 09:55:49
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28623608

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:49
ContributorAAM
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log