UPL 20658

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Captain Clark Gable and the crew of B17F "Duchess" after completing his 5th and final mission over Nantes, France September 23rd 1943 for which he was awarded the Air Medal. 351st Bomb Group RAF Polebrook. Printed caption on reverse of very similar photo: 'DS pictured standing in front of the Flying Fortress "Duchess" after the successful US 8th Air Force (ETO) raid on Nantes (France) the morning of September 23rd are back row, L to R: Lt James O Bradley, Cincinatti, Ohio, Captain John Carraway, Raleigh, NC, Major J R Blaycock, Council Bluff, Iowa, Captain Clark Gable, Hollywood, Cal, Lt Col. Robert W Burns, Ecru, Miss, Lt David Palmer, Seattle, Staff Sergeant Stephen Schmitt, 6617 North Ashen Ave, Chicago, Ill. Front Row: L to R: Staff Sergeant William J Mile, 836 East 83rd Street, NYC, Master Sergeant Fletcher Cupp, Carthage, MO, Staff Sergeant Frank Dillinbeck, 9502 East Broadway, Spokane, Technical Sergeant Clyde L Eisenhart, York PA. Above formed members of the crew of "Duchess" aboard which Gable has just completed his fifth mission and thereby earned the Air Medal DS/CAS.' Caption edited to reflect correct rank for Robert Burns at the time of the Nantes mission.

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Units

People

A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group, including Hollywood Actor Clark Gable, with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Duchess". Image stamped on reverse: 'International News photos.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '285399.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'DS pictured standing in front of the Flying Fortress "Duchess" after the successful US 8th Air Force (ETO) raid on Nantes (France) the morning of September 23rd are back row, L to R: Lt James O Bradley, Cincinatti

Clyde E Eisenhart

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Hollywood actor Clark Gable in the waist gun position of a a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 91st Bomb Group. Passed for publication 6 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Clark Gable Serves In England: Clark Gable has slipped into this country as Capt. Gable and is serving with the U.S. Army Air Force somewhere in England, as a Gunnery Instructor. He hopes that his movements will not be accompanied by the publicity that he had a while ago, because he wants to get down to the job as others are doing. Keysto

William Clark Gable

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 351st Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 508th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19125741 at enlistment, then O-565390
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Cameraman, Gunner, Actor
A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group, including Hollywood Actor Clark Gable, with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Duchess". Image stamped on reverse: 'International News photos.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '285399.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'DS pictured standing in front of the Flying Fortress "Duchess" after the successful US 8th Air Force (ETO) raid on Nantes (France) the morning of September 23rd are back row, L to R: Lt James O Bradley, Cincinatti

William J Mile

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant

David H Palmer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19094208 / O-736323
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group, including Hollywood Actor Clark Gable, with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Duchess". Image stamped on reverse: 'International News photos.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '285399.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'DS pictured standing in front of the Flying Fortress "Duchess" after the successful US 8th Air Force (ETO) raid on Nantes (France) the morning of September 23rd are back row, L to R: Lt James O Bradley, Cincinatti

Stephen G Schmidt

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36319510
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

Locations

Revisions

Date:
ContributorLucy May
ChangesChanges to caption and person associations
Sources

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/12410/

Date:
ContributorPaul Findon
ChangesChanges to collection
Sources

Original press release. DS/CAS

Date:
ContributorDouglas P
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

Caption edited to reflect correct rank for Robert Burns at the time of the Nantes mission. AAF had it wrong on the caption in NARA. http://www.351st.org/loadlist/search.php?type=m&mission=41&ac=42-29925

Date:
ContributorPaul Findon
ChangesCreated entry with caption, unit associations, person associations and place associations
Sources

Press release photograph taken at the time of the mission 09/23/43