23-Jun-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 [PU-O],"Snap!, Crackle!" Pop!" 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico but did not arrive at Molesworth with the rest of the crew. 303BG records do not indicate when he arrived at Molesworth, UK, or how he arrived there. However, he did fly 23 credited missions with that crew and 2 on other aircraft, completing a 25-Mission tour on 25-Jun-43.
Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Service
Units served with
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Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24620 'Snap, Crackle, Pop' assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-D] Bangor 14-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; was one of the first group of 40 B-17s deployed to England by the USAAF 8th Air Force. Plane was named by its original pilot, then-Lt. Jacob Wayne...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 5-Jan-43; Gt Falls 31-Jan-43; Denver 2-Feb-43; Salina 11-Feb-43; to Marrakesh, via ATC 14-Mar-43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-D] Molesworth 21-Mar-43; transferred BAD 1 Burtonwood 22-May-43; 532BS/381BG [VE-D] Ridgewell 7-Sep-43; 6+m...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 42-2967 "Shak Hak" was Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Bangor 18-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Presque Is 27/11/42; Molesworth 13/12/42; Returned to the USA 2/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Arledge 22/11/44. IZA VAILABLE.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 16/12/42; Salina 10/1/43; Homestead 17/2/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-F] Molesworth 7/3/43 RED ASS; transferred 427BS; 5m* Missing in Action Bremen 29/11/43 with Finis Brumbeloe, Co-pilot: Donnell Marsh, Navigator: Jim Groves, Flight...
Missions
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18 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...
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12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
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30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
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13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
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23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
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14 February 1943
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are once again slated at the primary target for this mission. A force of 74 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (17); 305BG (17); 306BG (20), but weather once again forces the mission to be recalled before...
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16 February 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are designated as the primary target of this mission of 71 B-17s and 18 B-24s. B-17s are from 91BG (18); 303BG (15); 305BG (18); 306BG (20) of these 59 are effective on the target and 6 are lost....
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26 February 1943
After 10 days of weather related delays of the bomber offensive, a mission is organised with the port facilities of Emden, Germany as the primary target. However, Emden is obscured by cloud cover and all formations divert to attack the port facilities...
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27 February 1943
With weather and cloud cover continuing to frustrate bombing efforts against targets in Northern Germany, VIII Bomber Command decides to mount a raid against the harbour facilities at Brest, France. A total of 60 B-17s are destached: 91BG (18); 303BG ...
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6 March 1943
German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a...
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Associated Place
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Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
AR |
29 October 1919 |
Assigned to Aircraft |
Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA |
23 June 1942 |
Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamgordo, New Mexico.
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Mission #1, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France |
18 November 1942 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #2, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Rouen, France |
12 December 1942 |
Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yard at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK
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Mission #3, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France |
30 December 1942 |
Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #4, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Lille, France |
13 January 1943 |
Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Available", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomaotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #5, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2967, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France |
23 January 1943 |
Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2967 "Shak Hak", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #6, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2967, 303BG/360BS |
Hamm, Germany |
14 February 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but severe weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formation.
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Mission #7, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2967, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France |
16 February 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #8, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
26 February 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.
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Mission #9, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Brest, France |
27 February 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port facilities and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #10, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France |
6 March 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #11, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Rennes, France |
8 March 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France, but mecahnical failures forced the pilot to abrot the sortie. RTB OK.
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Mission #12, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France |
12 March 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #13, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
22 March 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.
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Mission #14, SGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France |
28 March 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK.
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Promoted in Rank |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK |
30 March 1943 |
Promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
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Mission #15, SSGT Harvie L. Collins, w/B-17F 42-29570, 303BG/360BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands |
31 March 1943 |
Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-29570 "Big Time Operator II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK.
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Died |
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21 March 2010 |