42-5086 | American Air Museum

42-5086 Wahoo II

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 306th Bomb Group fly in formation over another B-17 (WW-J, serial number 42-5086) during a medal ceremony for Staff Sergeant Maynard Smith. Passed for publication 16 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Highest American Award For U.S. Air Gunner. 15.7.43. Col. Henry L. Stimson, U.S. Secretary of War to-day presented the Congressional Medal of Honour - America's highest award - equivalent to Britain's V.C. to Staff Sergeant Maynard Smith, for his bravery during a raid on St.

media-407808.jpg FRE 4391 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 306th Bomb Group fly in formation over another B-17 (WW-J, serial number 42-5086) during a medal ceremony for Staff Sergeant Maynard Smith. Passed for publication 16 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Highest American Award For U.S. Air Gunner. 15.7.43. Col. Henry L. Stimson, U.S. Secretary of War to-day presented the Congressional Medal of Honour - America's highest award - equivalent to Britain's V.C. to Staff Sergeant Maynard Smith, for his bravery during a raid on St. Nazaire in France. Smith is the second man in the European Theatre of Operations to receive this award in World War II and the first to live to receive it. The presentation took place at a station "somewhere in England". The picture shows:- A formation of Flying Fortresses fly past in salute as Col. Henry Stimson presents the award which took place in front of a Flying Fortress.' On reverse: Central Press Photos Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4391 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 306th Bomb Group fly in formation over another B-17 (WW-J, serial number 42-5086) during a medal ceremony for Staff...

Delivered Tulsa 17/9/42; Presque Is 17/11/42; Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-J] Thurleigh 25/11/42; transferred 546BS/384BG [BK-B] Grafton Underwood 5/9/43; battle damaged Munster 10/10/43 with Bill Wilson, Co-pilot: Carlos Rabby, Navigator: Bob Belk, Bombardier: Rich Crown, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lerster Birnbaum, Radio Operator: Jim Compton, Ball turret gunner: David Heintzelman, Waist gunner: Murray Stamm, Waist gunner: F.O. Miller, Tail gunner: Frank Greene (10 Returned to Duty), crash landed on bank of River Dove, Eye, Sfk, crew bailed over Ipswich; Salvaged. WAHOO II.

Connections

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Units served with

306th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

369th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

384th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

546th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Robert K Belk

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-736681
Highest Rank: Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Lester Birnbaum

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

The insignia of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.

James Harold Compton

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of a military airplane. Five men standing to the rear and five men sitting in front on top of flying gear.

Richard K Crown

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (384th Bomb Group)
Service Numbers: O-670023
Highest Rank: Major
Role/Job: Group Bombardier

Frank P Greene

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Grafton Underwood

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Grafton Undermud

Presque Isle Army Airfield

Site type: Airfield
Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is

A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'

Thurleigh

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Bedford

Missions

A B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-30233) of the 95th Bomb Group in flight during a mission over Munster, B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-6414) nicknamed "Herky Jerky II" (circled) breaks formation due to damage. Printed caption on reverse of print: '26414 AC - Munster, Germany (Oct 10, 1943), disabled Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" in flight. U.S. Air Force Photo. 10-10-43.'

VIII Bomber Command 114

Date: 10 October 1943

VIII Bomber Command 113

Date: 9 October 1943

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 388th Bomb Group fly over Nazi smoke screens. Printed caption on reverse: '73228 AC- The Nazis have released smoke screens in an effort to hide their railroad yards as Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" fly over the target at Bremen, Germany, prior to the release of the bombs. 8 October 1943.'

VIII Bomber Command 111

Date: 8 October 1943

VIII Bomber Command 108

Date: 4 October 1943

VIII Bomber Command 106

Date: 2 October 1943

Revisions

Date7 May 2023 20:42:57

Contributoracbernstein1

Changes

Sources

https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/One384thAircraft.php?Aircraf…

Date26 Jan 2023 00:03:33

Contributoracbernstein1

Changes

Sources

https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/One384thAircraft.php?Aircraf…

Date19 Mar 2020 19:19:52

Contributorjmoore43

ChangesChanges to unit associations

Sources

Added a unit connection to the 8th AF.
Added connections to the 369th BS & 306th BG mentioned in A/C description.

Date19 Mar 2020 19:11:48

Contributorjmoore43

ChangesChanges to description

Sources

Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date19 Mar 2020 19:10:55

Contributorjmoore43

ChangesChanges to nicknames

Sources

Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description”.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:53

ContributorAAM

ChangesAAM ingest

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-5086: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: FRE 4391 -