42-97519 | American Air Museum

42-97519 Spirit of Billy Mitchell

media-50859.jpeg UPL 50859 The Spirit of Billy Mitchell (42-97519 LL-A) 401st BS, 91st BG
Photo contributed by Joe Harlick Joe Harlick Collection

AAMIB

Object Number - UPL 50859 - The Spirit of Billy Mitchell (42-97519 LL-A) 401st BS, 91st BG Photo contributed by Joe Harlick

Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/43; Kearney 30/12/43; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-A] Bassingbourn 12/2/44; Missing in Action 19m Kassel 19/4/44 with Sam Evans*, Co-pilot: Dick Thompson*, Bombardier: Tom Harper, Ball turret gunner: Bob Kasch, Waist gunner: Hugh Winfree, Waist gunner: Alf Scelza* (6POW- *wia taken to Melsungen Hospital); Navigator: Harry Levin, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dick Saffell, Radio Operator: Phil Del Torto, Tail gunner: Bob Schupp (4 Killed in Action); hit by many Me 109’s and crashed S of Herlefeld, 18 miles SE of Kassel, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 4048. SPIRIT OF BILLY MITCHELL.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group.

401st Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Philip J Del Torto

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator

Sam L Evans

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Thomas W Harper

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Robert N Kasch

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Harold A Levin

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-683915
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Aerial photograph of Bassingbourn airfield looking east, Whaddon is at the top, the bomb dump is to the left of the main runway, which runs vertically; the control tower and technical site with four C-Type hangars is on the right, 23 August 1945. Photograph taken by No. 542 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/692. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Bassingbourn

Site type: Airfield

Missions

B-17 Flying Fortresses, (LL-F, serial number 42-97467) of the 91st Bomb Group, (OJ-G, serial number 42-97212) of the 96th Bomb Group and (LD-D, serial number 42-39994) of the 100th Bomb Group in Sweden, 1944. Written on slide casing: 'Sweden, 297467 LL:F, 18/7/44, 297212 OJ:G, 11/4/44, 239994, LD:D 3/3/44.'

8th Air Force 250

Date: 6 March 1944

Events

Event

Location

Date

Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany

19 April 1944

Revisions

Date2 Jan 2021 22:13:01

Contributorjmoore43

ChangesChanges to nicknames

Sources

Added the A/C nickname listed in the "Summary biography" sections of several crew including the Pilot “Sam L Evans”.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:41:13

ContributorAAM

ChangesAAM ingest

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4048 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-97519: Gallery (4 items)

B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (serial number 42-97519) nicknamed "Spirit of Billy Mitchell", of the 91st Bomb Group in flight. Written on slide casing: '91st BG.'

Object number: FRE 6279 -

B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (serial number 42-97519) nicknamed "Spirit of Billy Mitchell", of the 91st Bomb Group fly in formation during a mission. Written on slide casing: '91st BG.'

Object number: FRE 6280 -

Object number: UPL 50859 -

Object number: UPL 51084 -