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414th Bomb Squadron

Squadron

  • Squadron Emblem of the 414th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

    Squadron Emblem of the 414th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

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  • Scanned copy of original Loading List (operational FLIGHT REPORT) for the B-17E YANKEE DOODLE (41-9023) for the August 17, 1942 97th Bombardment Group Mission #1. Capt. Rudolph E. Flack (414th Bomb Squadron CO and Grafton Underwood Base Commander) served as the mission commander on this flight. The following link plays a historical August 17, 1942 film clip with sound taken by the British media where Capt. Flack is introduced as the ''Commanding Officer'' for this mission by Colonel Armstrong (97th Bomb Group CO) at the 1min 15sec mark; whereby, Capt. Flack stands in front of the entire bomb group to present his pre-mission briefing statement, which completes at the 1min 34sec mark: https://www.britishpathe.com/video/flying-fortresses-bomb-france/query/b17).

    Scanned copy of original Loading List (operational FLIGHT REPORT) for the B-17E YANKEE DOODLE (41-9023) for the August 17, 1942 97th Bombardment Group Mission #1. Capt. Rudolph E. Flack (414th Bomb Squadron CO and Grafton Underwood Base Commander) served as the mission commander on this flight. The following link plays a historical August 17, 1942 film clip with sound taken by the British media where Capt. Flack is introduced as the ''Commanding Officer'' for this mission by Colonel Armstrong (97th Bomb Group CO) at the 1min 15sec mark; whereby, Capt. Flack stands in front of the entire bomb group to present his pre-mission briefing statement, which completes at the 1min 34sec mark: https://www.britishpathe.com/video/flying-fortresses-bomb-france/query/b17).

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  • Major Hank Tillman of the 97th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress.

    Major Hank Tillman of the 97th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress.

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  • Photo taken on or before August 16, 1942 showing the normal crew assigned to B-17E YANKEE DOODLE (41-9023) plus its Squadron Commander, Captain R. E. Flack. Top Row Left-to-Right: 2nd Lt. James W. Dunn (Navigator); 2nd Lt. Carl E. Schultz (Bombardier); Capt. Rudolph E. Flack (414th CO & Pilot); 2nd Lt. John R. Dowswell (Pilot); 2nd Lt. William A. Hadden (Copilot). Bottom Row Left-to-Right: S-Sgt. Edwin N. Breedlove (Radio & Waist Gunner); Sgt. Ernest B. Clark (Ball Turret Gunner); S-Sgt. Paul W. Haygreen (Engineer & Top Turret Gunner); Sgt. Raymond C. Lewis (Tail Gunner); Sgt. Frank Hayes (Waist Gunner); Sgt. Shiller Cohen (Photographer). Refer to https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/ to follow the latest updates, which includes lots of details about the 414th Bomb Squadron primarily from February 1942 thru February 1943.

    Photo taken on or before August 16, 1942 showing the normal crew assigned to B-17E YANKEE DOODLE (41-9023) plus its Squadron Commander, Captain R. E. Flack. Top Row Left-to-Right: 2nd Lt. James W. Dunn (Navigator); 2nd Lt. Carl E. Schultz (Bombardier); Capt. Rudolph E. Flack (414th CO & Pilot); 2nd Lt. John R. Dowswell (Pilot); 2nd Lt. William A. Hadden (Copilot). Bottom Row Left-to-Right: S-Sgt. Edwin N. Breedlove (Radio & Waist Gunner); Sgt. Ernest B. Clark (Ball Turret Gunner); S-Sgt. Paul W. Haygreen (Engineer & Top Turret Gunner); Sgt. Raymond C. Lewis (Tail Gunner); Sgt. Frank Hayes (Waist Gunner); Sgt. Shiller Cohen (Photographer). Refer to https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/ to follow the latest updates, which includes lots of details about the 414th Bomb Squadron primarily from February 1942 thru February 1943.

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  • B-17F-40-BO #42-30319 301BG - 419BS - 44 missions 2BG - 49BS - 9 missions 97BG - 414BS Shot down 2 June 1944

    B-17F-40-BO #42-30319 301BG - 419BS - 44 missions 2BG - 49BS - 9 missions 97BG - 414BS Shot down 2 June 1944

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  • B-17G 44-6544 'Kwiturbitchin II' of the 414th BS, 97th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force.

    B-17G 44-6544 'Kwiturbitchin II' of the 414th BS, 97th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force.

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  • Glenn J. Rhodes Jr.

    Glenn J. Rhodes Jr.

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  • The B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) 8/17/42 Crew Listing -- 414th Bomb Squadron at Grafton-Underwood Field (RAF Station #106): 92nd BG conducted theater orientation training with the B-17E exchanged with the 97th BG for the formers F series before the latter deployed to the 12th Air Force in North Africa. This image and name suggests the 92nd BG assignment. Osborne: 41-9021; 327th BS, 92nd BG . Pilot ........................... Lt. Claire M. Smartt Copilot ....................... Lt. Godfrey Engil Navigator ................... Lt. Harry C. Nuessle Bombardier ................ Lt. Ralph Burbridge Engineer/TTG ............ Sgt. Ermando P. Roviaro Radio Operator/WG... Sgt. Allen O. Williams Waist Gunner ............ Sgt. Robert J. Nichols Ball Turret Gunner ..... Sgt. James M. Abbott Tail Gunner ............... Sgt. Henry Wojciechowski

    The B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) 8/17/42 Crew Listing -- 414th Bomb Squadron at Grafton-Underwood Field (RAF Station #106): 92nd BG conducted theater orientation training with the B-17E exchanged with the 97th BG for the formers F series before the latter deployed to the 12th Air Force in North Africa. This image and name suggests the 92nd BG assignment. Osborne: 41-9021; 327th BS, 92nd BG . Pilot ........................... Lt. Claire M. Smartt Copilot ....................... Lt. Godfrey Engil Navigator ................... Lt. Harry C. Nuessle Bombardier ................ Lt. Ralph Burbridge Engineer/TTG ............ Sgt. Ermando P. Roviaro Radio Operator/WG... Sgt. Allen O. Williams Waist Gunner ............ Sgt. Robert J. Nichols Ball Turret Gunner ..... Sgt. James M. Abbott Tail Gunner ............... Sgt. Henry Wojciechowski

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  • "Major General James H Doolittle pins the Distinguished Flying Cross on T/Sgt Potter." Backdrop is B-17 'Sweet Chariot' of 414BS, 97BG.

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  • "U.S. Army Air forces Flying fortresses approach the southern coast of France before beginning their bomb run over the Nazi submarine pens at Toulon." - B-17 42-30705 'Ther N Bak' 414th BS 97th BG.

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Structure

Part of
  • 97th Bomb Group

    97th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 97th Bomb Group flew the Eighth Air Force's first heavy bomber mission from the UK when they bombed a marshalling yard at Rouen on 17 August 1942. Just a month later though the Group were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and left England for the...

Encompassing
Not yet known
Previously was
Not yet known
Became
Not yet known

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 1

    17 August 1942
    The US 8AF launches its first strategic bombing raid of the war, sending 12 Boeing B-17Es of the 97BG on a strike against the railyards of Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, while another six fly a diversionary route. The attacking force is split into two...

Connections

People

  • James Abbott

    Military | 97th Bomb Group

  • William Adams

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 97th Bomb Group
    Shot down 21 October 1942 in B-17 #41-24443 while serving as Radio Operator, Prisoner of War (POW).

  • Edwin Alf

    Military | 97th Bomb Group

  • Robert Anderson

    Military | 97th Bomb Group

  • Nick Angelo

    Military | 97th Bomb Group

  • Thomas Asbury

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 97th Bomb Group
    Assigned 414BS, 97BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti 22-Jul-44; Crashed Ploesti Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 6855. Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Herman Bard

    Military | Sergeant | Waist gunner | 97th Bomb Group
    Assigned 414BS, 97BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return from Ploesti 22-Jul-44; Crashed Ploesti Prisoner of War. MACR 6855 Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Bob Bastanchury

    Military | 97th Bomb Group

  • D Bauer

    Military | 97th Bomb Group

  • Kenneth Beckel

    Military | 97th Bomb Group

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Aircraft

  • 41-24342 'Stinky Jr'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 92BG Bovingdon 8/42; 414BS/97BG Polebrook 24/8/42; transferred Maison Blanche, Alg. 20/11/42; Missing in Action Foggia 7/9/43 with Bill Bispham, Pilot: Everett Blogg, Navigator: Glenn J. Rhodes Jr., Co-pilot: Dan Grover, Flight engineer/top...

  • 41-24344

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 326BS/92BG Bovingdon 20-Aug-42; 414BS/97BG Polebrook 28-Aug-42; Missing in Action on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. This was 97th's first mission 21-Oct-42, shot down and crashed Plouescat, near Morlaix, France. 8KIA 2POW...

  • 41-24392 "Hell’s Kitchen"

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 92BG Bangor 13/7/42; 414BS/97BG Polebrook 24/8/42; Maison Blanche 20/11/42; Tafaraoui 22/11/42; Biskra 25/12/42; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43; Pont-du-Fahs 1/8/43; Depienne 15/8/43; 2BG Massicault 14/11/43; Salvaged 6/5/44. HELL'S KITCHEN.

  • 41-24400 Little Bill

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 92BG Bangor 13/7/42; transferred 414BS/97BG Polebrook 24/8/42; Maison Blanche 13/11/42; Tafaraoui 22/11/42; damaged 21/10/42; Salvaged. LITTLE BILL. ...

  • 41-24406 'All American'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 92BG Bangor 13/7/42; transferred 414BS/97BG Polebrook 6/42; Maison Blanche, Alg. 13/11/42; Tafaraoui, Alg. 22/11/42; Biskra, Alg. 25/12/42; on Tunis mission was rammed by Me109G 1/2/43 almost slicing rear fuselage and tail of plane off; made...

  • 41-24411 Dottie

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 325BS/92BG Bangor 13/7/42; 97BG Polebrook 8/42; Salvaged NBD 21/10/42. DOTTIE. ...

  • 41-24413 Birmingham Blitzkrieg

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 92BG Bangor 14 July 1942. Transferred 414BS/97BG Polebrook 24 August 1942. To Maison Blanche, Algiers, Algeria 13 November 1942. To Tafaraoui, Algeria 22 November 1942. To Biskra, Algeria 25 December 1942. Missing in Action on the Bizerte...

  • 41-24443 Johnny Reb II, Johnny Reb Jr

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 326BS/92BG Bangor 1-August-1942; transferred to 414BS/97BG Polebrook 24-August-1942; Missing in Action 21-October-1942 on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient/Keroman, France. The Navigator, 1Lt Harold Spire provided the following...

  • 41-24473 'Kissy-Me-Cowboy'

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 92BG Bangor 2/8/42; 414BS/97BG Polebrook 24/8/42; Maison Blanche 13/11/42; Tafaraoui 22/11/42; Biskra 25/12/42; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43; Pont-du-Fahs 1/8/43; De Pienn 15/8/43; Cerignola 20/12/43; Amendola 16/1/44. Salvaged 1/8/45. KISS-ME...

  • 41-24572

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Assigned 364BS/305BG Presque Is 19/10/42; Grafton Underwood 22/10/42; transferred 414BS/97BG Polebrook 4/11/42; Maison Blanche 13/11/42; Tafaraoui 22/11/42; Biskra 25/12/42; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43; 346BS/99BG Depienne 24/11/43; `20m`; depot 3/44;...

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Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
13 March 2015 16:24:17 rossingtonj Changes to type
Sources

Type added.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:49 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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