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Crew 10 of the 613th Bomb Squadron, 401st Bomb Group, who have just returned from a bombing mission over Europe, pose in front of the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Bonnie Donnie' at an 8th Air Force Base in England, 3 February 1944.
1Lt Stelzer crew (401st BG 613th BS) , not in order : Stelzer-pilot, Johnson-copilot, Hobbs-navigator, Warren-bombardier, Pack-radio, Hecker-engineer, Black-ball turret gunner, Rice-tail gunner, Holland-left waist gunner, Nicely-right waist gunner.
Group
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following...
Squadron
Military | Sergeant
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner
He flew on B-17 'The Saint and Ten Sinners'. Completed 25 missions from 22 Dec 1943 to 05 May 1944. His pilot was Robert Stelzer.
DFC, AM 2Oak Leaf Cluster, GC, Unit Citation,
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner
Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 27 x combat missions. Robert Stelzer crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-30855 'Ol' Massa' 8-May-44; shot down. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4586
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), PH.
Military | Staff Sergeant
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner
Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 27 x missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-30855 'Ol' Massa' 8-May-44; shot down. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 4586
Awards: AM (3OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EMEA (1 x Battle Star).
Military | Captain | Pilot
Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 24 x combat missions. "The Bonnie Donnie" flown by Capt Stelzer, after Frankfurt mission set down on her belly. Rains and snow had mired the ground on adjacent turf so that a glide landing would have been impossible...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier
completed 25 missions
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Dallas 8/9/43; to Gt Falls with Phil Sweet but force landed Pueblo, CO 10/9/43; Scott 20/10/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-G] Deenethorpe 8/11/43; Missing in Action Cologne 28/5/44 with George West, Waist gunner: Hugh Russell, Tail gunner: Mike...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 01 December 2017 09:43:41 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with caption, unit associations, person associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
