42-5917 Bouncin Bitch
Albert Batich, navigator, is standing in the middle of the back row (not wearing a hat).
Eugene Lescarbeau, waist gunner, is kneeling on the far left.
This ship came to the 379th BG in June 1943 & was originally assigned to the 524th BS Fuselage Code WA-Y. After a few missions she was transferred to the to the 526th BS & given two codes LF-Y then LF-L. She had only nine missions.. Pilot: We were flying at 28,000 and were hit by AA fire. The order to bail out was given but only six of the crew were able to do so. I believe the rest of the crew were killed before or during the way down; all controls & communications were out. The ship crashed near Ratzburg, Germany.
Albert Batich was identified in this photo by his son-in-law, Louis LaRusso.
Object Number - UPL 19323 - * 42-5917 * "The Bouncing Bitch". Albert Batich, navigator, is standing in the middle of the back row (not wearing a hat). Eugene Lescarbeau,...
Delivered Long Beach 5/5/43; Kearney 26/5/43; Dow Fd 2/6/43; Missing in Action Hamburg 25/7/43 with Phillip Mohr, Co-pilot: Hugh Brooks, Navigator: Albert Batich, Bombardier: Ben Elms, Waist gunner: Earl Callaway, Waist gunner: Gene Lescarbeau (6 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Josh Tipps, Radio Operator: John Heslin, Ball turret gunner: Reg Layfield,Tail gunner: Ralph Leyh (4 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft and flak, crashed Ritzerau, near Molin, 30 NE of Hamburg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 1767.
Assigned 524BS/379BG [WA-Y] Kimbolton 21/6/43; 526BS [LF-Y];
At the time she went down her Fuselage Code had been changed from LF-Y to LF-L.
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-738808
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-675317
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38207652
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-735952
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31080006
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Hamburg, Germany | 25 July 1943 | Shot down over Hamburg |
Revisions
Additional markings and fuselage code information sent through to the museum by Richard Lewis, username 'Cody1947'. He writes of the source: 'This data comes from the personal memories of Eugene O Lescarbeau S/Sgt RWG – POW & my unit record cards of the 379th BG'.
Changed image association using image caption information.
Grandfather was E. Lescarbeau. Source was his war journal and photographs
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1767 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database