42-97994 | American Air Museum

42-97994

Delivered Dallas 26/4/44; Langley 16/6/44; Dow Fd 7/7/44; Assigned 305BG Chelveston 8/7/44; transferred 384BG Grafton Underwood 29/7/44; 359BS/303BG [BN-Z] Molesworth 4/8/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 24/8/44 with Truman Eldridge, Co-pilot: Dan Sheehan, Navigator: Bill Carey, Navigator: Lisle Saum Ex nav, Bombardier: Loren Rawlings, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Fred Barnes, Radio Operator: Sam Rowlett, Ball turret gunner: Ralph Strong, Waist gunner: Lafon Wesley, Tail gunner: Andy Panos (10 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Balgstadt, SW of Merseburg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 8211.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

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

Insignia associated with the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force.

359th Bomb Squadron

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

People

Frederick E Barnes

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

William D Carey

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O698655
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Truman K Eldridge

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-756836
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Andrew T Panos

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 39279243
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Loren F Rawlings

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Places

Ground crews of 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses wait for their aircraft to return to Chelveston airbase after a raid on the 30 June 1943; a B-17 Flying Fortress is coming in to land. Passed for publication 30 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Fortress Station In Britain. From an American base in Britain the Flying Fortresses carry out operational activities which result in terrible blows against the German industrial war machine. This series of pictures shows scenes at a Flying Fortresse

Chelveston

Site type: Airfield

Aerial photograph of Grafton Underwood airfield looking north east, Geddington village is on the left, 22 April 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC309. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

Grafton Underwood

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Grafton Undermud

Aerial photograph of the east end of Molesworth airfield looking north, the control tower and two T2 hangars are right of the vertical runway, 5 October 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/889. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Molesworth

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event

Location

Date

Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany

24 August 1944

Revisions

Date7 Mar 2022 22:13:02

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:41:18

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 8211 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database