42-5860 Escape kit
Kneeling L-R: Robert E. Dibble, John H. Thompson, Edgar F. Woodward, Jr. (Pilot), Emanuel Cassimatis
The original plane for the Woodward Crew was "Poontang", as shown in this picture. While stateside for the passing of their bombardier Robert E. Dibble who was KIA on 8/15/1943, "Poontang" was taken out by the Biddick/Flesh crew due to reports of mechanical issues with "Escape Kit" and did not return on 8/17/1943. It was documented that Biddick took "Escape Kit" on 8/17/1943. Woodward's crew then took "Escape Kit" on the Sept 6, 1943 Stuttgart Mission No. 91 in which they experienced engine failure as described by S/Sgt Donald H. Fletcher below:
During the September 6, 1943 Mission to Stuttgart, the Woodward Crew (#33) flying "Escape Kit" had engine problems and the crew was forced to bail. Per a letter from Donald H. Fletcher (RWG) on January 25, 1984, "...on the way into the target, an oil leak in #2 engine. Woodward could then have aborted, but decided to press on. Somewhere near the IP oil pressure went to zero and prop would not feather - cylinder head temp. went sky high. If engine seized and prop came off it could have been disastrous to ship. It was decided to head south for Switzerland. When they believed themselves over Switzerland, the crew bailed. It turned out that only Woodward, who remained with aircraft until the crew had successfully bailed out, landed in Switzerland, the others in Germany."
Personal, written and video accounts from Donald H. Fletcher.
Delivered Long Beach 30/3/43; Denver 2/4/43; Wendover 2/5/43; Hill Fd 17/5/43; Dow Fd 29/5/43; Assigned 418BS/100BG [LD-P] Thorpe Abbotts 2/6/43 as POONTANG (never painted on); Missing in Action Schweinfurt (Regensburg) 17/8/43 with Curtis Biddick, Co-pilot: Dick Snyder, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Larry Godbey, Radio Operator: Bob DeKay (4 Killed in Action); Navigator: John Dennis, Bombardier: Dan McKay, Ball turret gunner: Walt Halunka, Waist gunner: Howard Brock, Waist gunner: Bill Blank, Tail gunner: Clarence Bowlin (6 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft hit nose which caught fire, crashed Schweinberg, 18 miles SW of Wurtzburg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 675. ESCAPE KIT.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-729797
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14050232
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16027969
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36178177
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36501948
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Poontang
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
17 August 1943 |
Revisions
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.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 675 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database