42-97273 Aces & Ates

384thbombgroup.com
Object Number - UPL 7453 - Nose art on 42-97273
Delivered Cheyenne 15/2/44; Dalhart 1/3/44; Grenier 26/3/44; Assigned 546BS/384BG [BK-F] Grafton Underwood 9/4/44; detailed Leipzig 7/7/44 with Nick Pranger, Co-pilot: Kenneth Vaden, Navigator: Edward Cheresnik, Bombardier: Charles Wolf, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Cameron Brooker, Radio Operator: Ralph Meyer, Ball turret gunner: Earle Browne, Waist gunner: John Sullivan (8 Returned to Duty), Tail gunner: Hugh Kidwell (Prisoner of War); subject to violent prop wash over Holland, tail gunner thought ship was doomed, bailed out and was captured near Meppel; Missing in Action Munich 12/7/44 with James Edward Roseborough, Co-pilot: Vincent DePaul Matlack Jr., Radio Operator: Howard Emerson Ford, Waist gunner: Victor Douglas Brecht (4 Killed in Action); Navigator: Seymour Gerald Saslow, Bombardier: John Joseph Fletcher, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lee Roy Bedsted, Ball turret gunner: Melvin Henry Gerhold, Tail gunner: Louis Edward Raines (5 Prisoner of War); flak KO’d #3 after bombs away, the aircraft spun down slowly and crashed near Munich; Missing Air Crew Report 7568. Aces & ATES!
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: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35727131
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner/Tail Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35733061
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36811354
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37500292
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Places

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Manchester Airport, New Hampshire

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Cheyenne airport, Jerry Olson field
Missions
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Hollland | 7 July 1944 | |
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 12 July 1944 |
Revisions
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
384thbombgroup.com
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 7454 / MACR 7568 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database