42-97232 G.I. Issue ; Sandy's Refueling Boys
Object Number - FRE 5857 - A bomber crew of the 95th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97232 ) nicknamed "Sandy's Refueling Boys", August 1944. Image via...
Delivered Cheyenne 9/2/44; Kearney 24/2/44; Grenier 8/3/44; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-O] Horham 12/3/44 GOVERNMENT PROPERTY; 88m, Missing in Action Stuttgart 16/12/44 with Harry Coffman, Co-pilot: Len Beadle, Navigator: Tom Reid, Bombardier: Neil Vediner, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ed Gallagher, Radio Operator: Don Lanni, Ball turret gunner: Bob Pellow, Waist gunner: Bill Hooser,Tail gunner: John Jones (9 Killed in Action); crashed off Zodutelande, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 11259. G.I. ISSUE aka SANDY’S REFUELING BOYS.
Connections
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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: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-703082
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 826852
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-765226
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31282677
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12093815 / O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed |
Horham, Eye, Suffolk IP21, UK | 7 October 1944 | Take Off Accident Horham/Sta 119 Cat 3 damage. Pilot Lt Leslie A Lennox Jr, 7-10-44. |
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
4374 Zoutelande, Netherlands | 16 December 1944 - 16 December 1944 | Missing in Action Stuttgart 16/12/44. Crashed off Zodutelande, Holland. (9 x KIA) Missing Air Crew Report MACR11259. |
Revisions
The colored pictures featured on this page were taken by Albert Keeler, the co-pilot of the "Full House" (42-97997). They show him and his fellow crewmen. Several photos show the gunners near their respective positions on the B17 (including my father near the ball turret). The officers were pictured near engines or the nose of the aircraft. In some of these photos the nose art "Sandy's Refueling Boys" (42-97232) can clearly be seen in the background which has resulted in people erroneously thinking the Dancisin/Keeler crew flew this airplane (see the captions beneath the photos). My father's recollection and the official records indicate the crew of the "Full House" never flew in "Sandy's Refueling Boys." It was just a handy aircraft at the time that Albert took this collection of photos. - Mark Makelky
Aircraft and mission information taken from the book "Operational Record Of The 95th Bomb Group (H)" by Paul M. Andrews
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 11259 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
![A pin up painted onto a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 100th Bomb Group. Marked not for publication 1 Mar 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '100BG?' On reverse: US Army ETO Theater Censor [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407338.jpg.webp?itok=N7mZDpR_)
