FRE 1271

IMAGE

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A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship, land after leading a flight to Berlin.' CPT Mel Hecker (right), an original 381st Lead Pilot completed 25 missions leading the Group over Berlin on March 8, 1944. The Group CO is 2nd from right and was co-pilot for the mission. Base is Ridgewell.

Connections

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Units

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 445th Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron 701st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16066723 / O-665306
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Assistant Operations Officer

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rotherhithe's Revenge
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron

Mission

Revisions

Date:
ContributorDoc Hecker
ChangesChanges to caption and mission associations
Sources

MAJ Rick Hecker, MC, USA (Ret), son of MAJ Mel Hecker, AC

Date:
ContributorDoc Hecker
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

R Hecker

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection