Military
" Sgt Jack Gaffney, [ San Bernardino, California ], has named his engine on a Boeing B-17 after his best back-home girl Judith sorry, but It's true- Judith will never receive from Dalton one-half of the loving care that her engine namesake does ". - Sgt Jack Gaffney of the 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st BG during his assignment as assistant crew chief on B-17F 42-5070 "Invasion II" (coded LL-A). In addition to his mechanic duties, Gaffney created "nose art" for seven different 91st BG Fortresses. He painted nose art for "Invasion II" (42-5070), "The Bad Egg" , "The Sky Wolf, Shamrock Special, Destiny's Child, Los Angeles City Limits, Sunkist Sue. Jack Paul Gaffney was born on Oct 16th, 1918 - passed away on July 17th, 2011. Sgt Benedict Borostowski Ball Turret Gunner climbs into his position for a photo in the background. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12473-60295AC.
Ground crew of the 97th Bomb group carry out engine maintenance on a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9045) nicknamed "Stinky" at Grafton Underwood. This aircraft was transferred to the 92nd Bomb Group 24 August 1942. Image stamped: 'Passed for Publication 14 Aug 1942'.[stamp]. 'Illustrated Copyright (Jarché)' [stamp]. '254685' [Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: '(5) Ground mechanics making adjustments to one of the giant Wright motors. The U.S. Air Force have brought all their own ground and maintenance staff with them. The open bomb doors shown below give some idea of the capacious stowage in the Fortress bomb bays.' FRE 738
B-17G 42-31812 "Destiny's Child" (coded LL-H) of the 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Grp. Crew chief Jack Gaffney's pride and joy, he was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in his maintenance actions.
B-17F 42-29591 "The Shamrock Special" (coded LL-Z), 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Grp, Bassingbourn. The ship was named by assistant crew chief Sgt Jack Gaffney in honor of his stepfather's Irish ancestry.
Jack Gaffney and "The Shamrock Special." 1943 Photo contributed by Jack Gaffney
In addition to his mechanic duties, Sgt Gaffney created "nose art" for seven different 91st BG Fortresses. He painted nose art for "Invasion II" (42-5070), "The Bad Egg" (41-24484), "The Sky Wolf" (41-24527), "Shamrock Special" (42-29591), "Destiny's Child" (42-31812), "Los Angeles City Limits" (42-107018), "Sunkist Sue" (44-6293).
It has now been documented that Sgt Gaffney created Nose art for an Eighth aircraft. "Stinky" 41-9045
Awards: Bronze Star, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner / Flight engineer | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Assigned to 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 17-Apr-43 in B-17 42-5070 'Invasion II'. Plane was on fire when all crew parachuted to safety. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 15519
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Schweinfurt in B-17 41-24527 'The Great Speckled Bird' 17-Aug-43; shot down by fighters, A/C crashed Waldeschaff. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 274
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-C] Bangor 31/8/42; Bassingbourn 1/10/42; on return from Cognac 43+m 31/12/43, diverted through weather to Gt Dunmow, Andrews Field, then Hunsdon Afd, with Hilary Evers, Co-pilot: Paul McDuffee, Navigator: Frank Keneley,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL- ] Bangor 6/9/42; Bassingbourn 1/10/42; 1m transferred 324BS [DF-Y]; Missing in Action 27+m Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Bill Munger, Co-pilot: Dave Gladhart, Navigator: John Brickley, Bombardier: Tony Kalupy, Flight engineer/top...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 414BS/97BG Polebrook 3/42; transferred 92BG Bovingdon 24/8/42; crash landed Agricultural College, Athenry, Ireland, near Galway Bay, 15/1/43 ex N/Africa after taking part in 1st Prov Grp of Gen Brereton in Eritrea (as No 8.). En route...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/1/44; Kearney 17/2/44; Presque Is 5/3/44; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-U] Ridgewell 25/3/44; 72m+ Returned to the USA Bradley 9/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 14/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 12/1/43; Rapid City 21/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Salina 31/3/43; Memphis 8/4/43; Dow Fd 16/4/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-K] Alconbury 22/4/43; 2m, transferred 401BS/91BG [LL-Z] Bassingbourn 16/6/43; AFSC 15/4/44; Returned to the USA...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/12/43; Kearney 7/1/44; Grenier 24/1/44; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-H] Bassingbourn 20/2/44; (completed first 44 missions on original engines for which crew chief Jack Gaffney awarded Bronze Star). Missing in Action on its 53rd...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 17/9/42; New Castle 11/10/42; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-A] Bassingbourn 14/12/42; Missing in Action 18m Bremen 17/4/43 with Capt Oscar O'Neill, Co-pilot: Bob Friehofer, Navigator: Capt Edwin Carmichael, Bombardier: Capt Edwin Bush,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Kearney 26/6/44; Dow Fd 9/7/44; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-A] Bassingbourn 22/7/44 PEGGY 20+m; Returned to the USA Bradley 12/6/45; Sth Plains 14/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 5/12/45. 2m SUNKIST...
Military site : airfield
Now home to a museum all about the aifield and its USAAF residents (http://www.towermuseumbassingbourn.co.uk/) , Bassingbourn opened in 1938 as part of the RAF's pre-war expansion programme. The RAF continued to use it until late in 1942 when its long...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | East Aurora, NY 14052, USA | 16 October 1918 |
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Son of Gladys E Gaffney. |
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| Lived in | San Bernardino, CA, USA | 1941 |
| Enlisted | 3601 S Gaffey St, San Pedro, CA 90731, USA | 25 October 1941 |
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Fort MacArthur |
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| Based | Bassingbourn | 1943 – 1945 |
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Assigned to 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| Died | Palm Desert, CA, USA | 17 July 2011 |
| Buried | Riverside National Cemetery Riverside Riverside County CA | 21 July 2011 |
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Riverside National Cemetery |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 June 2021 14:26:29 | acbernstein1 | Changes to nickname |
| Sources | ||
http://www.91stbombgroup.com/scrapbook_memories/kidrock.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 April 2021 08:31:46 | Al_Skiff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
https://www.fold3.com/image/630276461 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 24 April 2021 21:16:14 | jmoore43 | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Added associations to the A/C 41-24484, 41-24527, 42-31812, 42-107018 & 44-6293 mentioned in his "Summary biography". |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 May 2020 11:57:34 | RayWells | Changes to biography and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Information from Paul Browne eagles-over-ireland.site50.net |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 March 2017 14:27:09 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.fold3.com/page/90817979_jack_p%20gaffney/details/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 March 2017 13:38:34 | Al_Skiff | Changes to middlename, biography, awards, events, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.fold3.com/page/90817979_jack_p%20gaffney/details/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:13:44 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self |
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