42-39887 Pickle dropper iv
This photo is of my father, Grover Price Prillaman, and his sister, Esther Willard (Billie) Prillaman Althouse. She is the widow of Sergeant LeRoy Edgar Althouse, WAIST GUNNER | 390TH BOMB GROUP. "He was the Right Waist Gunner aboard B-17 tail #42-39887, of the 390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron. The B-17 was nicknamed “Pickle Dropper IV,” in honor of the pilot of the crew, LT Hugh A. Pickell. On June 5, 1944, the B-17 was last seen “burning on the water” off Dieppe, France. There were no survivors of this crew, and no remains were ever recovered." AAM quote.
Object Number - UPL 23032 - Widow of Sergeant LeRoy Edgar Aulthouse; Esther Willard (Billie) Aulthouse & her brother Grover Price Prillaman.
Delivered Long Beach 29/9/43; Gr Island 24/10/43; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-J] Framlingham 2/11/43. Missing in Action on its 54th mission, the one to the Boulogne coastal defences, France, on 5 June 1944, in preparation for the D-Day invasion. Pilot Hugh A. Pickell, Co-pilot Rodger Beckman, Bombardier Richard P. Joseph, Flight engineer/Top Turret gunner Robert L. Davis, Radio Operator Norman J. Hollis, Ball Turret gunner Norman R. Bean, Left Waist gunner: Joseph M. Carini, Right Waist gunner Leroy E. Aulthouse, Tail gunner Roland L. Zander (9 Killed in Action). Flak & mid-air collision with 42-97473 (390BG). Eight bailed out prior to crash, aircraft crashed English Channel. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 5480.
Connections
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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: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18216616
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33529901
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35090696
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-755626
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32553930
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Missions
- Date: 5 June 1944
- Official Description:
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
English Channel | 5 June 1944 | crashed at sea |
Revisions
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 5480 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
