497th Bomb Squadron

Squadron
The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95903) nicknamed "Hard to Get" of the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Hard to Get"- 497th Sqdn. Commander D D Bentley, actually taken on Stansted in July 1944.' media-395915.jpg FRE 7194 The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95903) nicknamed "Hard to Get" of the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Hard to Get"- 497th Sqdn. Commander D D Bentley, actually taken on Stansted in July 1944.'.

Caption from “The Martin B-26 Marauder” by J.K.Havener, p215 - ' Nose art on the 497th Sqdn. Commander D.D. Bentley's ship in the 344th BG. The dual-meaning name worked and it was never "got" by flak or fighters during Bailey's tenure as 497th CO. As a Lt. Col. he was transferred to the 322nd BG as Deputy Commander in August 1944'. Roger Freeman Collection

Added Caption from “The Martin B-26 Marauder” by J.K.Havener.

Object Number - FRE 7194 - The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95903) nicknamed "Hard to Get" of the 344th Bomb Group. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.....

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Stansted Mountfitchet

People

Operations Officer DC Brawner of the 344th Bomb Group awards Fenster, a bombardier of the group a Purple Heart in front of a latrine. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated Caption: '497th Sqdn didn't stand on ceremony and this impromtu award ceremony proved it. Sqdn Ops Officer DC Brawner awarding Bombardier Fenster a Purple Heart with latrine as backdrop.'

Leo Fenster

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19129788 on enlistment
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier-Navigator

Ralph H Fitch

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 497th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11122096
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant

Everett G Hanes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2071967
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

James Richard Harl

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-722452
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Lieutenant Jack Havener of the 344th Bomb Group reads a magazine in his bunk. Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: 'Havener in his sack in the hut. Night stand and racks & shelving made from empty ammo boxes, Sept `1944.'

John K Havener

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Revisions

Date
Contributorrossingtonj
Changes
Sources

Type added.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

497th Bomb Squadron: Gallery (11 items)