43-38719 Blue Hen Chick
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FRE 1765
A pilot of the 447th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-38719) nicknamed "Blue Hen Chick".
Pilots name is Ralph L Minker. The youngest pilot in the 447th to finish a tour at 20 years 8 months and 10 days Roger Freeman Collection
Pilots name is Ralph L Minker. The youngest pilot in the 447th to finish a tour at 20 years 8 months and 10 days Roger Freeman Collection
Public source
Delivered Lincoln 8/9/44; Dow Fd 25/9/44; Assigned 709BS/447BG Rattlesden 28/9/44; landing accident with Paul Miller 19/5/45; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 17/12/45. THE BLUE HEN CHICK.
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: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35652655
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Bombardier / Pilot / Comptroller
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 709th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-770722
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Memorial
- Known as: Rattlesden Control Tower
- Site type: Memorial
Missions
- Date: 15 October 1944
Revisions
Contributortimothymotz
Changes
Sources
Timothy Motz; from mission list kept by Harold Motz, compared with Doyle Shields, "History of the 447th Bomb Group"