42-39904 Bad Penny

Back row (L-R):
T/Sgt. Row w. Cockerham, Top Turret Gunner
S/Sgt. Herbert M. Housman, Right Waist Gunner
T/Sgt. Charles M. Lewis, Radio Operator / Gunner
S/Sgt. Charles E. Hardy, Ball Turret Gunner
S/Sgt. William T. Cummings, Left Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. James R. Hamilton, Tail Gunner.
Front Row (L-R)
2nd. Lt. Ralph W. Wolfe, Bombardier
1st. Lt. Fred "Duke" Grinham, Pilot
2nd. Lt. Fred Brown Jr., Co-Pilot
2nd. Lt. Ray Whitney, Navigator.
Hand written in photo correspondence by Charles Lewis - " A miracle is an event in ones life experienced by those who came through it alive - exactly as God pleases".
Charles Lewis Collection
Information provided by Charles M. Lewis.
Object Number - UPL 36135 - Grinham Crew 67 of 401st Bomb Group, 615th Bomb Squadron. Back row (L-R): T/Sgt. Row w. Cockerham, Top Turret Gunner S/Sgt. Herbert M. Housman,...
Delivered Long Beach 4/10/43; Gr Island 2/11/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-C] Deenethorpe 19/12/43. Missing in Action Stettin 13/5/44 with Sullivan Tonti, Co-pilot: George Evans, Navigator: Wyndall Lacasse, Bombardier: Bob Rocco, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Bower, Radio Operator: Adolphus Hutchinson, Ball turret gunner: Tom Smith, Waist gunner: Bill Patterson, Waist gunner: John Moultrie, Tail gunner: Mahlon Desso (10 INT); mech fault, force landed Bulltofta, Sweden; Missing Air Crew Report 4785. (Left Sweden 11/6/45).
BAD PENNY.
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: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 1st Scouting Force 384th Fighter Squadron 385th Fighter Squadron Scouting Force (Experimental) (SFX)
- Service Numbers: O-748548
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-818828
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Missions

- Date: 13 May 1944

- Date: 12 May 1944
- Date: 10 April 1944

- Date: 27 March 1944

- Date: 11 January 1944
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 13 May 1944 |
Revisions
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Information provided by Charles M. Lewis.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4785 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database