We are currently working on a site-wide upgrade which will be completed in September 2022
You will not be able to search, add or edit information in the American Air Museum archive while this takes place.
You can find out more about our plans here
By downloading this image, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions
1st Lt Ashcraft and crew of the 305th Bomb Group, are shown beside a B-17 Flying Fortress. 29 November 1942. England.
41-24617 "Southern Comfort" WF-J, badly damaged mission to Rotterdam, 31 march 43, crew abandoned A/C over UK, 1 x KIA, 9 x RTD. Pilot managed to stagger back to belly landing at Beacon Hill, near Wickham Bishops, Witham, Eng.
Rear L-R – 2Lt William J Lakey[Copilot], 2Lt James Alfred Moberly[Nav], Lt Hugh Ashcoft[Pilot], 2Lt Bert M Wells[Bomb], S/Sgt James Patterson[Waist].
Front L-R – T/Sgt Stephen L Gogolya[TT/Eng], T/Sgt Douglas Glover[Radio], S/Sgt Frank Hern Hilsabeck[TailGun], S/Sgt Ray Armstrong[Ball Turret], S/Sgt Frank Corser[Waist].
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
Squadron
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Ball Turret Gunner - B-17 41-24617 Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. Baled out over England. RTD.
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Pilot - B-17 41-24617 'Southern Comfort' crash landed; Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. The crew bailed out over Essex. TTG was lost as he slipped out of his parachute. RTD.
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Waist Gunner - B-17 41-24617 Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. Baled out over England. RTD.
Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Radio Operator - B-17 41-24617 Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. Baled out over England. RTD.
He stayed in the Air Force and retired as a Lieutenant Col. with 30 years service.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
Killed in Action (KIA) on 31-Mar-43 on returning from mission in B-17 41-24617 'Southern Comfort' when the A/C crashed. The crew bailed out over Essex. SSgt Gogolya was lost when he slipped out of his parachute.
Awards: DFC, PH.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Frank was inducted into the USAAC on 8-Jan-42 and entered the war, stationed in Chelveston, England, where he flew out of the base as a tail-gunner on a B-17 Bomber. Having completed his 25 missions in June 1943....
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Co-pilot to Hugh Ashcraft.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Navigator - B-17 41-24617 Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. Baled out over England. RTD.
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Waist Gunner - B-17 41-24617 Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. Baled out over England. RTD.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Navigator - B-17 41-24617 Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. Baled out over England. RTD.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-J] Presque 19/10/42; Grafton Underwood 25/10/42; fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31/3/43 with Hugh Ashcraft, Co-pilot: Bill Lakey, Navigator: Bert Wells, Bombardier: Jim Moberley, Radio Operator: Doug...
31 March 1943
The shipyards ar Rotterdam, Holland are the primary target. 78 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (20); 305BG (19) and 306BG (19). The weather prevents bombing by 91BG and 306BG reducing the total effective on the target to 33 of the 78 despatched....
Military site : airfield
Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 09 December 2015 14:49:42 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with caption, unit associations, person associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
