42-5177 | American Air Museum

42-5177 FAST WOMAN, FAST WORKER Mk II

media-378967.jpg FRE 1100 A B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-U, serial number 42-5177) nicknamed "Fast Woman (Fast Worker II)". Image via Pete Bowens. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1100 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-U, serial number 42-5177) nicknamed "Fast Woman (Fast Worker II)". Image via Pete Bowens.

Delivered Denver 6/10/42; New Castle 19/10/42; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-U] Molesworth 1/2/43; battle damaged Bremen 28/11/43 with Harry Bolsover, Co-pilot: Chas Rice, Navigator: Byron Clark, Bombardier: Chas McLain, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Marvin Powell, Ball turret gunner: Francis Joubert, Waist gunner: Joe Robichaud Wounded in Action, Waist gunner: Chas Robb, Tail gunner: Jack Perryman Wounded in Action (9 Returned to Duty), Radio Operator: Ray Roberts (Killed in Action); flak KO’d two engines, crash landed Attlebridge, Sfk. Salvaged 13/12/43. FAST WOMAN aka FAST WORKER Mk II.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

303rd Bomb Group

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

359th Bomb Squadron

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

People

Ralph Boyd Adams

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 13035538
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Gunner

Harold S Bolsover

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Byron Franklin Clark

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 18137605 / O-685539
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Jesse H Elliott

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-728188
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Francis M Joubert

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 11008749
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Places

Molesworth

Site type: Airfield

Missions

VIII Bomber Command 138

Date: 26 November 1943

A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 303rd Bomb Group fly above the clouds on their way to Norway. B-17F (BN-T, serial number 41-24561) nicknamed "The Duchess", of the 359th Bomb Squadron, is visible in the foreground. Printed caption on reverse: ' 67417 USAF - Flying high above a blanket of fleecy clouds, a formation of 8th Air Force Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" drones steadily on towards the target somewhere in Norway on 16 November 1943. Air Force Photo.'

VIII Bomber Command 131

Date: 16 November 1943

VIII Bomber Command 121

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

VIII Bomber Command 119

Date: 3 November 1943

VIII Bomber Command 116

Date: 20 October 1943

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Other Sustained Heavy Damage/Crash Landed	RAF Attlebridge, England	28 November 1943	Cannon fire from ME-109s knocked out two engines and badly damaged the aircraft, causing a crash landing at Attlebridge. Two men were wounded and one was killed by enemy machine gun fire.
Other Salvaged		13 December 1943	Returned to 303rd Bomb Group use

Event

Location

Date

Description

Other

Sustained Heavy Damage/Crash Landed

RAF Attlebridge, England

28 November 1943

Cannon fire from ME-109s knocked out two engines and badly damaged the aircraft, causing a crash landing at Attlebridge. Two men were wounded and one was killed by enemy machine gun fire.

Other

Salvaged

13 December 1943

Returned to 303rd Bomb Group use

Revisions

Date19 May 2022 09:22:14

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to unit associations

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

Date19 Oct 2020 19:52:20

Contributorjmoore43

ChangesChanges to description

Sources

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

Date19 Oct 2020 19:50:38

Contributorjmoore43

ChangesChanges to nicknames and markings

Sources

Updated nickname and Markings per info in the A/C description.

Date21 May 2020 21:27:31

ContributorCastleBren

ChangesChanges to production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, events, unit associations and mission associations

Sources

303rd Bomb Group records

Date19 Sep 2017 14:36:18

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to media associations

Sources

Roger Freeman Photo.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:54

ContributorAAM

ChangesAAM ingest

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-5177: Gallery (4 items)

Object number: FRE 1100 -

Lieutenant Robert Mattison of the 303rd Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Fast Worker Mk. II". Passed for publication 9 Sep 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '303BG.' Printed caption attached: 'Crack "Fort" Pilots In The European Theatre. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Lt. Robert Mattison, of Seattle, Washington, who, operating from the European Theatre of Operations, has completed 24 missions in a Fortress over Germany and German-occupied territory. TET 260380. 9-9-43-Y.' On reverse:

Object number: FRE 4206 -

Object number: UPL 28953 -

Object number: UPL 30023 -