Robert O Johnson | American Air Museum

Robert O Johnson

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'

Object Number - FRE 1282 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing...

Bombs from the 'High Group' knocked the tail section off B-17G #42-37781 'Silver Dollar' and crashed near Osdorf on a mission to Berlin on 9 Mar 1944. Killed in Action (KIA). 16 combat missions.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.

384th Bomb Group

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

A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'

546th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Merlin Howard Reed

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 1st Air Division 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-670612
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Bruce Martin Rininsland

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-680714
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-37781

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Silver Dollar
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron

Missions

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.

8th Air Force 253

Date: 9 March 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Grafton Underwood airfield looking north east, Geddington village is on the left, 22 April 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC309. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

Grafton Underwood

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Grafton Undermud

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Died		9 March 1944
Born	Burbank, California
Buried

Revisions

Date14 Feb 2015 17:02:24

Contributorbombercommand

Sources

384thbombgroup.com

Date27 Sep 2014 18:23:57

ContributorAAM

Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3005, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…

Robert O Johnson: Gallery (3 items)

A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'

Object number: FRE 1282 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42...

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.

Object number: FRE 9709 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group...

Object number: UPL 29926 - Crew of the Silver Dollar