Harvie Lecil Collins

Military

23-Jun-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 [PU-O],"Snap!, Crackle!" Pop!" 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico but did not arrive at Molesworth with the rest of the crew. 303BG records do not indicate when he arrived at Molesworth, UK, or how he arrived there. However, he did fly 23 credited missions with that crew and 2 on other aircraft, completing a 25-Mission tour on 25-Jun-43.

Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.

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.

303rd Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

41-24620

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Snap! Crackle! Pop!
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

42-29570

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Time Operator II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 532nd Bomb Squadron

42-2967

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shak Hak
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].

42-2973

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Iza vailable
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].

42-5483

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The devil himself, red ass
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

AR 29 October 1919

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA 23 June 1942 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamgordo, New Mexico.

Other

Mission #1, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Rouen, France 12 December 1942 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yard at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK

Other

Mission #3, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS

Lorient, France 30 December 1942 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Available", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomaotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2967, 303BG/360BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2967 "Shak Hak", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2967, 303BG/360BS

Hamm, Germany 14 February 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but severe weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formation.

Other

Mission #7, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2967, 303BG/360BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 16 February 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 26 February 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #9, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS

Brest, France 27 February 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port facilities and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #10, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS

Lorient, France 6 March 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #11, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Rennes, France 8 March 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France, but mecahnical failures forced the pilot to abrot the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #12, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS

Rouen, France 12 March 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #13, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 22 March 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #14, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS

Rouen, France 28 March 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK.

Other

Promoted in Rank

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 30 March 1943 Promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Other

Mission #15, SSGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-29570, 303BG/360BS

Rotterdam, Netherlands 31 March 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-29570 "Big Time Operator II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK.

Died

21 March 2010

Revisions

Date7 Mar 2016 22:35:02
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-May-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date7 Mar 2016 22:32:37
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf

Date7 Mar 2016 22:29:35
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf

Date7 Mar 2016 22:27:53
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf

Date7 Mar 2016 22:24:37
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf

Date7 Mar 2016 22:22:43
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 8-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf

Date7 Mar 2016 22:20:03
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf

Date7 Mar 2016 22:07:30
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Made connections to Aircraft 42-5483 and 42-29570 and Missions of 6-Mar-43, 8-Mar-43, 12-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43, 28-Mar-43, 31-Mar-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date25 Feb 2016 20:03:17
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Made connections to Missions 23-Jan-43, 14-Feb-43, 16-Feb-43, 27-Feb-43 per 303BG records: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date25 Feb 2016 19:54:16
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf

Date25 Feb 2016 19:51:02
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf

Date25 Feb 2016 19:47:04
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf

Date25 Feb 2016 19:44:19
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf

Date27 Jan 2016 23:46:32
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Made Connections to Aircraft and Missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historians, Mission Reports through 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date27 Jan 2016 23:42:12
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date27 Jan 2016 23:38:06
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date27 Jan 2016 21:31:07
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf

Date27 Jan 2016 21:28:39
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date27 Jan 2016 21:25:18
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Added Mission # 1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf

Date27 Jan 2016 21:20:40
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Added Assigned to Aricraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Jacob W. Fredericks crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-fredericks.html

Date27 Jan 2016 21:17:46
ContributorLee8thbuff
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Added intial assignment info and mission infor to Summary Biography per 303BG webiste, Gary Moncur, Historian, Jacob W. Fredericks crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-fredericks.html

Date27 Sep 2014 18:12:33
ContributorAAM
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://303rdbg.com/rost-cd.html#C / son, David Collins, 141 Matt Phillips Rd, Huntsville, AL 35806