42-5483 The devil himself, red ass

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]. media-407628.jpg FRE 4241 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].

The caption above is incorrect. There was no "Kicking Horse" in the 303rd BG. The plane is actually B-17F 42-5483 "Red Ass." This photo was taken 6 September 1943 as the plane returned from 303rd BG Mission #67 to Stuttgart, Germany.

Radio operator Eddie Deerfield wrote in his notes:
"Our B17F was Red Ass (42-5483) piloted by Robert Cogswell. A 20mm hit by an enemy fighter knocked out our number 1 engine about 15 minutes after leaving the target. We landed with the prop feathered."
Roger Freeman Collection

Gary L Moncur
303rd BG Historian

Object Number - FRE 4241 - A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking...

Delivered Cheyenne 16/12/42; Salina 10/1/43; Homestead 17/2/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-F] Molesworth 7/3/43 RED ASS; transferred 427BS; 5m* Missing in Action Bremen 29/11/43 with Finis Brumbeloe, Co-pilot: Donnell Marsh, Navigator: Jim Groves, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Pete Kiebish, Radio Operator: Irwin Johnson, Tail gunner: Bill Perryman (7 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Chas Garneau, Waist gunner: Bill Steele, Ball turret gunner: Howard Payton RIP 20/12/44 of illness, Waist gunner: Dave Hoffman (3 Prisoner of War); flak and enemy aircraft, crashed Renslage, six miles W of Quackenbruck, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 1656. THE DEVIL HIMSELF aka RED ASS.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 487th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 13011194
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner; Observer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12079615
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17020247 / O-728212
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37314652
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17061485 / O-737961
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 29 November 1943

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

American Air Museum

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1656 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-5483: Gallery (1 items)