42-5714 Old Faithful
Object Number - UPL 32713 - "A carpet of clouds hides the earth from the sight of Boeing B-17 crew members as the plane of the 91st Bomb Group wings its way toward the target -...
Delivered Cheyenne 3/9/42; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-S] Thurleigh 16/5/43 OLD FAITHFUL; transferred 323BS/91BG Bassingbourn 11/9/43; transferred 322BS [LL-S]; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 14/10/43 with Bob Slane, Co-pilot: Joe Johnson, Bombardier: Bill Runner, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Sherman Sly, Radio Operator: Vic Kuhlman, Ball turret gunner: Lou Brown, Waist gunner: Chas Croth, Waist gunner: Bob Solomon (8 Prisoner of War), Navigator: Art Foster (EVD-ret UK 19/9/44),Tail gunner: Claud Smith (Killed in Action); enemy aircraft KO’d #3 & #4, crash landed on rail line S of Metz, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 899. Salvaged by Luftwaffe, and restored to be used by KG 200 for spares.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Places
- Site type: Airfield
![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.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 14 October 1943 |
Revisions
Added Production block number per info on the internet.
Source: https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/production-block/b-17f-5-ve-42-5710-42-…
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 899 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
