FRE 4373

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A bomber crew of the 423rd Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group with their B-17G Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102503) nicknamed "Belle the Blue". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thurleigh, England, Spring 1944. Aircraft #42-102503. 306th BG Triangle H – 423rd Sq – 40th Wing – 1st Div – 8th AF. First mission – Berlin, Germany. Reichstag Hdgtrs! Last mission – Ruhland, Ger. Shot down 9/12/44. Lost the crew. Known to have made 34-36 missions. Kneeling left to right: Sam Marshall – Bomba. Jacksonville, FL. Edward Carey – Nav. Rochester, N.Y. Harold Miller – Pilot. Findlay, Ohio. Standing left to right: Paul Green – Waist Gun. Appleton, Wisc. Dean Saul – Waist Gun. Beatrice, Neb. Asher Brown – Rad Op. Elizabeth, N.J. Robert Custer – Top Gun. Kingsville, Texas. Dale Maughan – Tail Gun. Logan, Utah. Bob Fomby – Co-Pilot. Montgomery, Ala. James Slye – Ball Turret. Danielso[n], Conn. B-17G – 4x1200 HP Wright Cyclone. WT – 64,000#. W-Span – 113’ – Length – 22’8’’. Max Speed 300MPH. Crit Alt. Above 30,000 Ft. Fuel – 2780 Gals – 120 Octane. 13 50.cal Machine Guns. Max Load – 6000 Tons – 500 ton or 6x1000 ton bombs.'

Connections

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Units

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-102503) of the 306th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Belle of the Blue
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron

Locations

Revisions

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection