42-39999 Bataan Avenger
"What was left of Bomb Group 9"
Tommy - 2nd Lt. Frederick L. Tompkins, 0-690408, Pilot
Butts - Sgt. Robert O. Butts, Jr., 33553787, Left Waist Gunner
Fram - Sgt. Roger C. Framm, 19206441, Lower Turret
Ray - S/Sgt. Elmer R. Cutsinger, 38200294, Radio Operator
Merkle - Sgt. Carl F. Merkle, 19090034, Right Waist Gunner
Tex (Joe) - Sgt. Joseph A. Jordan, 38341267, Tail Gunner
"Missing"
Fred - 2nd Lt. Fred E. Letz, 0-699203, Navigator (Evaded)
Smitty - 2nd Lt. Paul H. Smith, 0-696292, Bombardier (KIA)
Smokey - S/Sgt. Harold L. Bolick, 39268736, Upper Turret (Evaded)
Rodey - 2nd Lt. Earl E. Rodenburg, 0-700368, Co-Pilot (POW)
Photograph from the Jordan Family Archives
Delivered Long Beach 1/11/43;
Kearney 30/11/43;
Assigned 49BS/2BG Amendola 9/12/43;
* Missing in Action St Etienne, Fr, 26/5/44 with Fred Tomkins, Radio Operator: Elmer Cutsinger, Ball turret gunner: Bob Fram, Waist gunner: Carl Merkle, Waist gunner: Bob Butts, Joe Jordan (6 Returned to Duty);
Co-pilot: Earl Rodenburg* (Prisoner of War);
Navigator: Fred Letz*, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Bolick* (2 evaded capture); Bombardier: Paul Smith* (Killed in Action); (*bailed out).
A/c caught fire and forced to turn back, but fire eventually put out and radio operator Cutsinger helped pilot to fly to Corsica and made forced landing; repaired and returned to base.
* On mission to Brux, Czech. 20/10/44 with E.Holtz, Co-pilot: Bill Myers, Navigator: D.Powell, Bombardier: Sgt G. Weamer, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: C. Collins, Radio Operator: T. Shadrow, Ball turret gunner: Z. McCool, Waist gunner: W.Wiltz, Waist gunner: S.Pokrywka, Tail gunner: Bob Capper (?G. Reilly?), aircraft ran out of gas, ditched Adriatic, crew all OK and picked up by Catalina. Missing Air Crew Report 5831. BATAAN AVENGER.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 49th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-818143
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 429th Bomb Squadron 49th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38341267
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Revisions
1. "Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Registry," by Benoit, http://www.avialogs.com/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=categor…
2.