Archibald Erwin Town

Military

Assigned to 710BS, 447BG, 8AF USAAF. Lost oil pressure in No 3 engine on a local training flight on 9-Mar-44 in B-17 42-31169 'Hey Mabel!' and then was unable to lower left landing gear and made an emergency landing in the grass at Honington. RTD.

A/C damaged, machine gun fire from B-17 20-May-1944 in B-17 42-97176. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base. RTB

 

Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), EAME (2BS), WWII Victory

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.

447th Bomb Group

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

People

Arthur Baker

Arthur Rector Baker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35551683
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Simpson Gray

Simpson Bogard Gray

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38167500
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
John Harwell

John Thomas Harwell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34386652
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Duane Kesterke

Duane Alvin Kesterke

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16087364 / O-700153
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Robert C Lewis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-687045
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

A crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31169) nicknamed "Hey Mabel!" of the 447th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '367 (44) 3-9-44 Aero Repair. B17G 42-31169. FSAD.' Image stamped on reverse: 'Official Photograph Photo section US Army.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17G-5-BO. S/N 42-31169 Hey Mabel!'

42-31169

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hey Mabel!
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron

42-97176

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

San Francisco, California 14 November 1915 Born San Francisco, California

Enlisted

Los Angeles, California 18 February 1942 Enlisted Los Angeles, California

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://legacy.catalog.archives.gov/id/133449685

https://legacy.catalog.archives.gov/id/146931963

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/630992448

https://www.fold3.com/record/84990583/archibald-e-town-wwii-army-enlist…

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit History Roster as of 01 August 1945, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces