A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'
Richard H. Bailey Crew
388th BG - 561st BS
Standing Left to Right: George Bartuska (B), Richard H. Bailey (P), William L. Tobin (CP), Laurence M. Bairstow (N)
Kneeling Left to Right: Ned Transou (R/O), John J. Thompson (FE), Donald E. Marble (WG), Ralph Higgins (TG), Edward L. Gwinnell (WG), Roy L. Graziani (BTG)
IWM catalogue record
This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'
Connections
Units
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Group
The 388th Bomb Group flew strategic bombing mission from Knettishall, Suffolk from June 1943 to the end of the war. During this time, though, detachments were sent to Fersfield, Norfolk to conduct Aphrodite missions. In these Aphrodite missions veteran...
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People
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Major
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator
Also served in Korea and Vietnam. Retired from the USAF with the rank of Colonel.
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Military | Major | Bombardier/Lead Bombardier
Retired from the USAF with the rank of Lt. Colonel
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Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner
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Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Right Waist Gunner
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Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Tail Gunner
DFC/ PH/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster
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Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer - Top Turret Gunner
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot/Co-Pilot
Flew 17 missions as co-pilot for Frank Kelley (3 missions) and Richard Bailey (14 missions)
Flew 11 missions as pilot leading his own crew
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Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator
Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 12/6/43; Assigned 561BS/388BG [ -T] Knettishall 14/6/43; Missing in Action Bordeaux 27/3/44 with Julius Lederman, Co-pilot: Waite Law, Bombardier: John Luzell (3 Prisoner of War)...
Locations
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Military site : airfield
Knettishall was built to Class A standard for an American Bomb Group that would be bringing up to forty heavy bombers with them in three or four Squadrons. The 388th Bomb Group, which stayed at Knettishall for their entire service in the ETO, flew B-17...