media-39759.jpeg UPL 39759 This photo shows the crew with their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) prior to August 17, 1942. This crew and plane were assigned to the 414th BS (97th BG) stationed at Grafton-Underwood Field (RAF Station #106). The plane and crew shown in this photo participated in the first All-American Flying Fortress bombing mission over German occupied territory (Sotteville Railroad Marshalling Yards at Rouen, France) on August 17, 1942 (Mission #1):

Pilot - Lt. Claire M. Smartt (standing far right);
Copilot - Lt. Godfrey Engil;
Navigator - Lt. Harry C. Nuessle;
Bombardier - Lt. Ralph Burbridge;
Engineer/TTG - Sgt. Ermando P. Roviaro;
Radio Operator/WG - Sgt. Allen O. Williams;
Waist Gunner - Sgt. Robert J. Nichols;
Ball Turret Gunner - Sgt. James M. Abbott;
Tail Gunner - Sgt. Henry Wojciechowski.

After the 92nd Bomb Group completed its training at Sarasota Bradenton Field in Florida in late June 1942, it was ordered to VIII Bomber Command and the RAF Field at Bovingdon in Hertfordshire, England and began arriving on August 18, 1942 with the newly modeled B 17F Flying Fortresses. On August 24, 1942, the 97th BG exchanged most of their B 17E aircraft for the newly arrived B 17F aircraft delivered by the 92nd BG. The 414th BS exchanged their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) for the B-17F 41-24400, which its Pilot 1st Lt. Claire M. Smartt named "Little Bill".

The 92nd BG conducted theater orientation training with the B-17E's exchanged with the 97th BG for the formers F series. The B-17E Hanger Queen (41-9021) was assigned to the 327th BS, 92nd BG.

For additional information, search for "Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack" on Facebook. Once you download and save the latest version of the "main" book to your PC, you will find related details in Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.

Updated by Rick Flack on December 11, 2022.