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FRE 9709

IMAGE

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.

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A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group, 546TH Bomb Squadron falls towards the ground after having its tail shorn off by falling bombs during a mission to Berlin, Ball turret gunner and waist gunner were able to bail out at 5,000 feet, 9 March 1944. MACR 3005. 42-37781.

Connections

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Units

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.

384th Bomb Group

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

A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'

546th Bomb Squadron

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

People

Peter Gudyka

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-669278
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Emmet F Hardy

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 39830126
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

John L Heiss

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-671434
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.

Joseph Jacobson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 39176552
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Waist Gunner

A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'

Robert O Johnson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 19080173
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

42-37781

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Silver Dollar
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron

Locations

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

Mission

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.

8th Air Force 253

Date: 9 March 1944

Revisions

Date: 5 Nov 2022 07:39:47

Contributorbombercommand

ChangesChanges to caption, unit associations, person associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations

Sources

384THBOMBGROUP.COM

Date: 5 Nov 2022 07:39:47

ContributorWatspoon

ChangesChanges to caption

Sources

Just a bit more info

Date: 2 Feb 2015 10:00:18

ContributorAAM

ChangesAAM ingest

Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection