Robert O Johnson

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.' media-380079.jpg FRE 1282 A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.' Roger Freeman Collection

384thbombgroup.com

Object Number - FRE 1282 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing...

Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #121 dated 18 October 1943.  Bombs from the 'High Group' knocked the tail section off B-17G #42-37781 'Silver Dollar' and crashed near Osdorf on a mission to Berlin on 9 Mar 1944. Killed in Action (KIA)/Missing in Action (MIA). 

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

Arthur John Osepchook

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11035742
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.

John James Plotz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39837458
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Merlin Howard Reed

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-670612
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Bruce Martin Rininsland

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-680714
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Robert F Wellman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36168236
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Aircraft

42-31375

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Nose section of an airplane that has a plexiglass bubble on the front. On the side is a painting of a coin with the words "Silver Dollar" painted around the coin.

42-37781

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Dollar
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortresses nicknamed "London Avenger", nicknamed "Bermondsley Battler", nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge" and nicknamed "Bermondsley" of the 379th Bomb Group, 15 February 1944. Passed for publication 16 Feb 1944. Censor no: 305411. Handwritten caption on reverse: '16/2/44.' Printed caption on reverse: ' CHRISTENS U.S. FORTRESS BOMBER. Feb. 16th, 1944. As an appreciation of £800,000 raised during Bermondsey's Wings for Victory Week., the people of Bermondsey christened a U.S. Fortress bomber "

42-37792

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Eleanor Maureen : Bermondsey
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 34th Bomb Group 487th Bomb Group 836th Bomb Squadron

42-37801

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Duchess : Dynamite Express
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron

42-37885

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Frostie : Mrs FDR
  • Unit: 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

Missing in Action (MIA)

Berlin, Germany 9 March 1944 Lost after bombs away when bombs from high group (379BG) hit this aircraft, knocking tail completely off in front of stabilizer; aircraft dived straight down into a spin with all four engines going; no chutes observed. MACR 3005

Born

Burbank, California

Other

Memorialized

Margraten, The Netherlands Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands: Tablets of the Missing

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=1970

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

384thbombgroup.com

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3005, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…

Robert O Johnson: Gallery (4 items)