UPL 23690

IMAGE

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Westrope Crew, 708th Squadron, 447th Bomb Group. Photo taken at Rattlesden. Standing in front of B-17 "Satchel Lass" (42-31185). Judging from the mission marks on the plane, this was taken after April-May 1944; probably autumn 1944. Satchel Lass crash-landed near Honington, England on September 9, 1944 and was repaired at Rattlesden and returned to combat duty. The presence of Sgt. Robert Orlosky, the crew chief for "Milk Wagon" (43-37756), which the Westrope crew flew for the last third of their combat tour, suggests that the photo was taken at the end of that tour in late October, 1944. Satchel Lass was simply a convenient backdrop. Back Row: Otto Moreland, Robert Westrope, Harold Motz, Warren Callahan, Oscar Flores; Front Row: Joseph Pfeiffer, Robert Orlosky, Edwin Wells, Harold Woods. Missing from photo and thus probably the photographer, Willard "Bill" Lawrence. As far as has been determined, this crew never actually flew this aircraft. It is interesting that in contrast to the official crew photo taken before the Westrope crew left the US for England in which officers and enlisted men are in separate rows, in this photo officers and enlisted men are mixed together.

Connections

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Units

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Pilot / Comptroller
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37536427
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Lower Ball Turret Gunner/Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-717475
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

A crashed B-17G Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31185) of the 447th Bomb Group at Honington, 9 September 1944. Official caption on image: "646 - (44) - WPU - 9.9.44 - Honington - Crash Landing - B-17G - 42-31185 - AM-FSAD."
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Satchel Lass
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron

Locations

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Timothy Motz

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Timothy Motz; photo in the family of Harold Motz

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Timothy Motz

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Timothy Motz

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Timothy Motz, corrections to crew identifications

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Timothy Motz; photo from the family of Harold Motz

Date:
Contributortimothymotz
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