42-5051 Barrel House Bessie
Delivered Cheyenne 9/9/42; Assigned 2BG New Castle, force landed base with Onas Matz 25/3/43; reallocated to ETO. POE: Dow Fd 11/6/43; assigned 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
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20243890 at enlistment, then O-683297
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-800398
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37300035
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32378638
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39828869
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Places
Missions
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
- Date: 16 August 1943
- Date: 29 July 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
26 November 1943 |
Revisions
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1579 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database