42-5051 Barrel House Bessie
Delivered Cheyenne 9/9/42; Assigned 2BG New Castle, force landed base with Onas Matz 25/3/43; Dow Fd 11/6/43; transferred 303BG Molesworth 1/11/43; transferred 366BS/305BG [KY-M] Chelveston 2/11/43; transferred 544BS/384BG [SU-M] Grafton Underwood 26/7/43. Missing in Action on the 26 November 1943 mission to Bremen. Major William F. Gilmore, Co-pilot: Donald S. Morrison, Navigator: Floyd H. Ohlson, Bombardier: Earl C. Mason, Radio Operator: Nathan Striesfeld, Ball turret gunner: Donald L. Engwer, Waist gunner: Joseph E. Burger (7 Returned to Duty). Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Maurice V. Henry, Waist gunner: James F. Bucher, Tail gunner: Albert M. Schamber (3 Killed in Action). Flak, ditched North Sea, off UK. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 1579. BARREL HOUSE BESSIE.
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13067778
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32373835
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36255285
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 812th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14006633 at enlistment, then O-406671
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot; Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37205337
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 29 November 1943
- Date: 16 November 1943
- Date: 13 November 1943
- Date: 5 November 1943
![An Illustration of the Wilhelmshaven raid, 3 November 1943. Image stamped on reverse: '10 Nov 1943.' [stamp], '292478.'[Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'THE BIGGEST EVER DAY RAID: By US Fortresses and Liberators on Wilhelmshaven- escorted all the way by fighters. Special Sphere drawings. THE SCENE OVER WILHELMSHAVEN JUST AS OUT BOMBERS WERE LEAVING THE TARGET ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMVER 3RD. AFTER THE BIGGEST DAYLIGHT RAID EVER CARRIED OUT OVER GERMANY. IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND OF THIS DRAWING, LIGHTNING](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-418517.jpg.webp?itok=KjJP-yi2)
- Date: 3 November 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
North Sea | 26 November 1943 |
Revisions
MACR 1579
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1579 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database