43-38619
![Three ladies with the tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-A, serial number 43-38619) of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'C/L Ghent 303BG- SAL 14/2/45.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/freeman/media-378905.jpg)
Handwritten caption on reverse: 'C/L Ghent 303BG- SAL 14/2/45.' Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 1037 - Three women, wrapped up in coats, gloves and scarves against the cold, stand next to the tail of B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-A, serial number 43-38619)...
Delivered Cheyenne 25/8/44; Patterson 10/9/44; Hunter 29/9/44; Dow Fd 9/10/44; Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-L] Snetterton 14/10/44; transferred 359BS/303BG [BN-A] Molesworth 15/10/44; battle damaged Dresden 14/2/45 with pilot Harvey Towne; force landed continent; Salvaged 13/3/45.
First mission of the 1Lt Towne crew, 303rd Bomb Group's mission 314, on 14 February 1945 to Dresden, Germany --
Made an emergency landing on the European Continent with no causalities. The B-17G 43-38619 (No name) (359BS) BN-A was on its 22nd dispatched combat mission and was salvaged on 13 March 1945 and left at the European landing airfield.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395045.jpg?itok=caWLp9v9)
- 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.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395047.jpg?itok=YlKbQqYM)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35053888
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Airplane Mechanic
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 42064385
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 774706
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 0700?12
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
![Tilsen and Crew, Biggs Field](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-09/Tilsen%20%20and%20Crew%2C%20Biggs%20Field%20-1.jpg?itok=pvXJrc7s)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14177065
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
Places
![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).](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/eh/eh-94.jpg?itok=WdxJYMU6)
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-35140.jpeg?itok=3CvXCTRR)
- Date: 14 February 1945
- Official Description:
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Force landed |
Ghent, Belgium | 14 February 1945 | |
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Dresden, Germany | 14 February 1945 | |
Other Salvaged |
13 March 1945 |