42-5903 Ascend Charlie

Photo courtesy of 2nd Lt. Schanen's family via William L. "Bill" Beigel
Object Number - UPL 20943 - 2nd Lt. Robert L. Schanen, Navigator of "Ascend Charlie"
Delivered Long Beach 6/5/43; Denver 13/5/43; Geiger 23/6/43; Gt Falls 7/6/43; Smoky Hill 29/6/43; Dow Fd 10/7/43; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-R] Framlingham 14/7/43; sustained battle damage over Bordeaux 16/9/43 with Herb Turner, Co-pilot: Fred Broers, Navigator: Bob Schanen, Bombardier: Orval Tofte, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Sherman Rambo, Radio Operator: Philip Catania, Ball turret gunner: Swen Zetterberg, Waist gunner: Stan Mason, Waist gunner: John Peterson, Tail gunner: Alf Monson (10 Killed in Action); crashed Crickhowell, near Abergavenny, Wales. Salvaged 24/9/43. Missing Air Crew Report 3720. ASCEND CHARLIE.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-740046
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31145450
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13022083
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19044338
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32394207
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg?itok=OrUFNu9A)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Missions

- Date: 16 September 1943

- Date: 7 September 1943
- Official Description:
![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].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-407628.jpg?itok=2XWNIY5H)
- Date: 6 September 1943

- Date: 2 September 1943

- Date: 31 August 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
16 September 1943 |
Revisions
390th Bomb Group Memorial Museum. https://5085.sydneyplus.com/archive/Portal/390th.aspx?lang=en-US&p_AAAH…
Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3720 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database