James R Douglass

Military
media-55412.jpeg UPL 55412 Crew of Just A Snappin on the Bremen Mission.
Standing from left : William McClelland, Harry H. Crosby, Charles A. Via, Jr., Everett E. Blakely, James R. Douglas.
Kneeling : Lester W. Saunders, Monroe R. Thornton, Edward S. Yevich, Lyle E Nord, and Edmund G Forkner

From the Blakely Collection

Object Number - UPL 55412 - Crew of Just A Snappin on the Bremen Mission. Standing from left : William McClelland, Harry H. Crosby, Charles A. Via, Jr., Everett E. Blakely,...

Bombardier on B-17F #42-3393 'Just-A-Snappin'. On a mission to Bremen on 8 Oct 1943, the aircraft was severely damaged by flak and enemy fighters. The aircraft returned to base alone and landed in a field near Ludham, crashing into a tree. Douglass is quoted in his hometown newspaper as saying "I just can't believe we got back!" Seven members of the B-17s were wounded, one fatally so. Douglass was told by a flight surgeon that he'd never set foot in an aircraft again, indicating that he'd be re-assigned to a ground role. 

Captain James R Rouglass is portrayed by Elliot Warren in Apple's Masters of the Air (2024).

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

42-3393

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Just-A-Snappin'
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron

Places

Revisions

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added some Highlighting in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Added an Association to “Thorpe Abbotts”, the home base of the 100th BG.

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ContributorHattie
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ContributorHattie
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ContributorHattie
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Lansing State Journal, Oct 31 1943

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ContributorHattie
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Contributorjmoore43
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Added "Possible DUPLICATE" in the nickname field so an Admin can check out this person.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a connection to the 100th BG.
Added a connection to A/C #42-3393 listed in the "Summary biography".

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop and Hey p. 314

James R Douglass: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 55412 - Crew of Just A Snappin on the Bremen Mission...