42-5855 Ramp Tramp
![The wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress (RD-T, serial number 425855) of the 423rd Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/freeman/media-407776.jpg)
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 4364 - The wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress (RD-T, serial number 425855) of the 423rd Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group.
Delivered Long Beach 8/3/43; Denver 13/3/43; Memphis 8/4/43; Dow Fd 15/4/43; Assigned 95BG Alconbury 27/4/43; transferred 545BS/384BG [JD-V] Grafton Underwood 28/6/43; transferred 423BS/306BG [RD-T] Thurleigh 22/8/43; Missing in Action Bremen 8/10/43 with Dean Rodman, Bombardier: Norman Sansom [386BS], Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clifton Barber, Waist gunner: Bob Downing, Tail gunner: Jack Koetter (5 Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: Morris Cook, Navigator: John Garland, Radio Operator: Urban Hupfer, Ball turret gunner: Bill May, Waist gunner: Martin Mitosinka (5 Killed in Action); flak KO’d two engines, crashed Goldenstedt, ten miles NE of Vechta, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 869.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395055.jpg?itok=Fcx5fW4h)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395075.jpg?itok=Z2H16PVo)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![The insignia of the 423rd Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395059.jpg?itok=JE_Sho47)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-25779.jpeg?itok=E5y2kpR2)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395032.jpg?itok=M8uiWk_r)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16023565
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18162519
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
![Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane. Six men standing to the rear and four men kneeling in front. Some of the men are wearing cold weather flying gear. There are large canvas bags on the ground in front of the men.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-10/20160405192536-18ffb9fc-me.png?itok=sNjlixE1)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665291
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Places
![Aerial photograph of Alconbury airfield, looking east. The technical site is at the top, the bomb dump is on the left, 9 May 1944. Photograph taken by 13th Photographic Squadron, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group USAAF, sortie number US/7GR/LOC334. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/eh/eh-2.jpg?itok=Q4O78Fzi)
- Site type: Airfield
![Aerial photograph of Grafton Underwood airfield looking north east, Geddington village is on the left, 22 April 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC309. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/eh/eh-258.jpg?itok=i-QQOssr)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
![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/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg?itok=zmglI2BR)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Missions
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg?itok=qEFM7VpV)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-7577.jpeg?itok=zURkH5Pl)
- Date: 25 July 1943
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-25220.jpeg?itok=nElDVR6P)
- Date: 14 July 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
8 October 1943 |
Revisions
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 869 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database