42-39878 War Eagle

Delivered Long Beach 28/9/43; Gr Island 26/10/43; Assigned 365BS/305BG [XK- ] Chelveston 3/1/44; Missing in Action Zwickau 28/5/44 with Julius F. Herrick, Co-pilot: Lloyd Saunders, Navigator: Leon Lobdell, Bombardier: Herbert Borax, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Gillespie, Radio Operator: Bill Schwartz, Ball turret gunner: Orval Busby, Tail gunner: John Napier (8 Prisoner of War); Waist gunner: Dan Dunbar, Waist gunner: Ben Norris (2 EVD - ret UK 5 Sept); damaged in target area, crash landed Hentern, N of Zerf, 11 miles SE of Trier, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 5336.

Connections

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

Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.

305th Bomb Group

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

People

Herbert Borax

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-762075
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Orval Richard Busby

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39575352
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Daniel E Dunbar

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Charlie Gillespie

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15065175
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner, Top Turret Gunner ; Flight Engineer

Julius F Herrick

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-753660
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Long Beach, CA, USA 28 September 1943 Delivered Long Beach 28-Sep-43.

Assigned

Chelveston, Wellingborough NN9 6AN, UK 3 January 1944 Assigned 365BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

54314 Zerf, Germany 28 May 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Dessau damaged in target area, crash landed Hentern, Nth of Zerf, 11 miles SE of Trier; 2 x RTD, 8 x POW MACR 5336

Manufactured

Las Vegas, NV, USA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=42-39878&Submit6=Go
https://www.fold3.com/image/28619559
Mission 376: Battle Over the Reich, May 28, 1944 By Ivo de Jong

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=42-39878&Submit6=Go
https://www.fold3.com/image/28619559
Mission 376: Battle Over the Reich, May 28, 1944 By Ivo de Jong

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 5336 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database