Alan Bradford Purdy
Military
Back Row- Sampson Sharff (Obs/Tg), Earl Mason (B), Arthur Drogue (N), Alfred Nuttall (Ac/Cp), Randolph Jacobs (P)
Front Row- Lawrence Wager (Wg), Alan Purdy (Ro), Robert Compton (Wg), Jack Goetz (Tt), Walter Arnold (Bt) 384th Bomb Group collection
The Quentin Bland Collection. https://photos.384thbombgroup.com/picture.php?/35749/search/8882
Object Number - UPL 66471 - 384th Bomb Group Lead Crews/9 March 1944, Berlin/Oranienburg, Heinkel Aircraft Factory. Back Row- Sampson Sharff (Obs/Tg), Earl Mason (B), Arthur...
Upon takeoff from base on mission to Bremen 13-Nov-1943, 384th was recalled. B-17 #42-24575 'Sunrise Serenader' vibrated before going into a spin and broke in two at the center of the radio room. A/C crashed near Wargrave, Berkshire. 9 KOM, 1 RTD. Purdy was sole survivor.
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: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-747074
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16154459
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner, Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37285869
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner / Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36268988
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-675567
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sunrise Serenader
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Dog
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
![A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31235) nicknamed 'Goin' Dog' of the 384th Bomb Group takes off for a mission. A censor has obscured the triangle P and serial number on the aircraft's tail. Image stamped on reverse: 'Sport and General.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 24 April 1944.' [stamp] and '313357.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Back from Berlin. Crews of US Fortress Station returning from the Berlin raid which took place recently. 34320. A Fortress takes off- destination Berlin](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380089.jpg.webp?itok=4ixJ1-Ec)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Goin' Dog
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Shack Rabbit
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Nuttal's Nut House
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
Missions
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Survived crash |
13 November 1943 |
Revisions
AAIR 43-11-13-500 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I p. 371 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
