42-5434 BOB’S BOUDOIR, Lady Luck

Object Number - UPL 31586 - Captain Griffin and lead crew on bombing mission to Villa Coublay, France, beside Boeing B-17, "Flying Fortress" "Lady Luck". 303rd Bomb Group....

Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/42; Morrison 6/2/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-J] Molesworth 6/3/43; crash landed Alresford, Hants., UK, 26/9/43 with Bob Cogswell [injured in crash], Co-pilot: Dallas Kendall, Navigator: Ed Cobb, Bombardier: Frank Kulesa, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gil Bendston, Radio Operator: Ed Deerfield, Ball turret gunner: John Deffinger, Waist gunner: Simeon Oxendine, Waist gunner: Elmer Peterson, Tail gunner: Paul Davis (10 Returned to Duty), crashed Alresford, near Winchester, Hants. Salvaged 20/12/43. BOB’S BOUDOIR aka LADY LUCK.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

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

People

Gilbert E Bendston

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Edward Louis Cobb

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15066640 / O-673478
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Robert Whitney Cogswell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20321821 / O-734072
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Paul J Davis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14063077
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].

Eddie Deerfield

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16080041
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

New Alresford, Alresford SO24, UK 26 September 1943

Revisions

Date27 Jan 2020 17:30:21
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

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

Date27 Jan 2020 17:29:07
Contributorjmoore43
Sources

Added a 2nd nickname mentioned in the A/C “Description”.

Date14 Jun 2019 13:16:48
Contributorphil marchese
Sources

AAM existing option for key image.

Date14 Jun 2019 12:36:58
Contributorphil marchese
Sources

AAM associated image was a Vega.

FLYING FORTRESS 1936 1945

Date10 Mar 2016 00:01:22
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Mar-2016. Added Nickname per "The B-17 Flying Fortress Strory", Roger A. Freeman wit David Osborne.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:56
ContributorAAM
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-5434: Gallery (3 items)

Object number: UPL 31586 - Captain Griffin and lead crew on bombing mission...

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