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A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
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A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'L to R: Front row: M/Sgt Victor Magnuson (C/C), Sgt William Hemmila (Asst). Back row: Cpl Howard McKinney, Scribner Daily (P), Sgt Herbert Westentaf.'
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Second Lieutenant FL Shaw and his crew of the 401st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress after a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '65693 AC- Lt Shaw and crew of the 401st Bomb Group, stationed at an 8th AF Base in England 8 May 1945. US Air Force Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '2nd Lt FL Shaw & crew 614th BS, shot down at the crew's 10th mission 11/4/44, Polilz. All POW's 2nd from right, front row coloured?'
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Ground personnel of the 401st Bomb Group attend to a crashed B-17 (SC-S, serial number 42-97938) nicknamed "Twan-n-g-g" piloted by Lieutenant Donald M. Schliemann. Printed caption on reverse: '65727 AC- When Lt Donald M Schliemann was landing the Boeing B-17 "Twan-n-g-g" after the mission over Munster, Germany, the landing gear buckled and the plane careened off the runway coming to a stop on the perimeter. Here 401st Bomb Group inspect the damage to the plane 28 October 1944. (Aircraft no. 42-97938). US Air Force Photo.'
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Bomber crews from the 401st Bomb Group look over P-51 Mustang, FT-T, serial number 43-12172, of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, at Deenethorpe airfield. One of their B-17 Flying Fortresses is in the background. Printed caption on reverse of print: '...401st Bomb Group look over a North American P-51 Mustang at an 8th Air Force base in England, 27 December 1943.'
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Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson, a pilot of the 401st Bomb Group and cousin of the US War Secretary Henry Stimson, with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-37770) nicknamed "Flak Rat". Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296488.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US WAR SECRETARY'S COUSIN PILOTS FLYING FORTRESSES OVER EUROPE. Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson, Greenwich, Connecticut, cousin of US War Secretary Henry Stimson is pilot of a Flying Fortress in the European Theatre of Operations. Lt Stimson made his first operational flight when he piloted "Flak Rat", his B-17 bomber on the US Army Eight Air Force Raid on Solingen, the Ruhr steel centre. Photo shows: Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson standing by his Flying Fortress "Flak Rat" at a USAAF airfield in England. Gai. December 11th 1943 PN.'
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Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson, a pilot of the 401st Bomb Group and cousin of the US War Secretary Henry Stimson, with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-37770) nicknamed "Flak Rat". Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296490.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US WAR SECRETARY'S COUSIN PILOTS FLYING FORTRESSES OVER EUROPE. Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson, Greenwich, Connecticut, cousin of US War Secretary Henry Stimson is pilot of a Flying Fortress in the European Theatre of Operations. Lt Stimson made his first operational flight when he piloted "Flak Rat", his B-17 bomber on the US Army Eight Air Force Raid on Solingen, the Ruhr steel centre. Photo shows: Lieutenant Boudinot Stimson standing by his Flying Fortress "Flak Rat" at a USAAF airfield in England. G. December 11th 1943 PN.'
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A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group, who have returned to operational duties following a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296493.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. Photo shows: The crew of the Fortress bomber which crashed on the village of Deenthorpe.
L-R. T/Sgt William D Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, South Caroline,
Sergeant Waldon D Cohen, Ball-turret gunner of Altoona, Pennsylvania,
Sergeant Harold J Kelsen, waist gunner, of Brooklyn NY,
Sergeant Robert V Kerr, tail-gunner of Montesano, Washington,
S/Sgt Benjamin C Misser, radio-operator, of Quarryville, Pennsylvania,
[Lieutenant Wardlow Hammond, co-pilot, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania],
Lieutenant Walter B Keith, pilot of Hodgeville Kentucky, who is talking to Captain RJ White, of Kingsport Tennessee, who rescued the navigator Lieutenant King [a censor has obscured the navigator's name] from the blazing bomber. Gai. December 11th 1943. PN.'
Press caption for image series: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. All but two of the crew of a Flying Fortress which crashed on the village of Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, and exploded with its cargo of bombs following the fire which broke out inside the bomber, are back on operational duties with the Eighth Air Force. The navigator and bomb-aimer are still in hospital, recovering from injuries. They were rescued from the blazing Fortress shortly before the explosion. Gai. December 11 1943. Note to censor: This story covers the set of four pictures under the above title.’
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Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co-pilot and pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, talk with Captain RJ White.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White.
Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of Kingsport, Tenn, who rescued the navigator from the burning plane. G. 11th December 1943. PN.'
Press caption for image series: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. All but two of the crew of a Flying Fortress which crashed on the village of Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, and exploded with its cargo of bombs following the fire which broke out inside the bomber, are back on operational duties with the Eighth Air Force. The navigator and bomb-aimer are still in hospital, recovering from injuries. They were rescued from the blazing Fortress shortly before the explosion. Gai. December 11 1943. Note to censor: This story covers the set of four pictures under the above title.’
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Combat and ground crew of the 401st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress, (serial number 41-31983) nicknamed "Mary Alice". The airmen, left to right, are: (Front row) Charlie Wilson (waist gunner), William "Mack" Mackowiack (ball turret gunner). (Middle Row) Eddie Chambers (bombardier) and Dan Knight (pilot). Handwritten caption on reverse: '401.'
The 401st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, from November 1943 to June 1945. Starting their missions at that time meant the focus was very much on the coming invasion attempt of France planned for the following summer. The Group won two Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, awarded to the whole of the 1st Bomb Division, was for an unescorted raid on aircraft factories at Oschersleben on 11 January 1944. The second was awarded to the Group for a raid on Leipzig on 20 February 1944.
For more information about the group, visit http://www.remember-our-heroes.nl/
- Commanding officers
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Military | Brigadier General | Commanding Officer | 401st Bomb Group
Commanding Officer of 401st BG from June 1943 to 5 December 1944.
Retired as Brigadier General
Awards: SS, LOM, DFC (OLC), AM, Croix de Guerre, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Brigadier General | Commanding Officer | 401st Bomb Group
Commanding Officer of 401st BG from 5 December 1944 to 30 May 1945. Flew 30 missions. He later served as Commandant of the cadets at USAF Academy in Colorado and then as President and Chairman of Pan Amercian World Airways.
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Structure
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Missions
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26 November 1943
The industrial areas of Bremen, Germany are the target for this massive mission (largest to date) of 505 B-17s which included 14 B-17 Pathfinders from 482BG spread among the B-17 formations - 13 of these completed the mission and 7 were damaged.
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30 November 1943
This mission is directed at a single target - the industrial areas of Solingen, Germany. The mission consists of three elements. The first element is a force of 221 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (24); 92BG (20); 303BG (20); 305BG (16...
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1 December 1943
This mission was directed at the industrial areas of Leverkusen and Solingen, Germany. The mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a combined force of 221 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (27); 92BG (18); 303BG (17);...
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5 December 1943
This mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a combined force of 216 B-17 from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (10); 92BG (19); 303BG (20); 305BG (20); 306BG (21); 351BG (35); 379BG (21); 381BG (30); 384BG (20); and 301BG (20)...
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11 December 1943
This mission is a massive raid of 583 heavy bombers on the industrial areas of Emden, Germany. The first element is a combined force of 242 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (24); 92BG (18); 303BG (20); 305BG (21); 306BG (20); 351BG (40)...
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13 December 1943
The port areas at Bremen and Kiel, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. This is the first mission where more than 600 aircraft are despatched. This mission is comprised of 8 elements. The first element consists 182 B-17s from: 91BG (31);...
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16 December 1943
This is a massive mission of 631 heavy bombers directed at the port area of Bremen, Germany. The force of 631 included 1 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG dispersed among the attacking formations. The mission is composed of three elements. The first...
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20 December 1943
The port area of Bremen is the target for 546 heavy bombers. The total includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG. All 12 of these are effective on the target and 11 are damaged. The bomber gunners of this element claim 1-1-0 (this total included with...
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22 December 1943
This mission is composed of two forces directed at two separate targets, the communication centers at Osnabruck and Munster, Germany. The force attacking at Osnabruck is composed of two elements. The first element is composed of 227 B-17s (2 are PFF...
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24 December 1943
This mission is directed at V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. The attacks are made between 1330-1510hrs. The mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a force of 277 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG ...
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Stations
Station |
Location |
Date |
Established |
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1 April 1943 |
Based |
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1 April 1943 – 27 May 1943 |
Based |
Great Falls Army Air Base |
1 July 1943 – 18 October 1943 |
Based |
Deenethorpe |
3 November 1943 – 20 June 1945 |
Connections
People
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Airplane Mechanic | 401st Bomb Group
'I was a Airplane Mechanic on the B-17 "Hells Angels Out of Chute 13" with the 401st Bomb Group + 612th Squadron. We were really proud of it because I finished 118 missions without an abort. It was shot up on the last mission of the war in Europe, but...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 1 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-30855 'Ol' Massa' 8-May-44; shot down. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4586
Awards: PH.
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 20 x combat mission. McCord crew. Munich mission 16-Jul-44, A/C hit by flak causing a failure of the oxygen system to the nose compartment, died of anoxia along with bombardier Irwin Dobrow. Killed in Action (KIA)
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Military | Technical Sergeant | 401st Bomb Group
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 11-Sep-44 in B-17 42-31091 'Maggie'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 8920
Awards: AM (3OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. Bill Trimble crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in B-17 42-40002 19-Jun-44; force landed Le Pouyau. Evaded capture (EVD). See the page with details about his evasion at...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
Assigned to 614BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew 6 x combat missions. Scimeca crew.
Awards: AM, WII Victory, EAME.
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Military | Captain | Group Physical Training Officer | 401st Bomb Group
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Military | Sergeant | 401st Bomb Group
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Military | Master Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 401st Bomb Group
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F-27-BO 41-24606 "Werewolf" was assigned 358BG/303BG [VK-H] Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan on 14-Sep-42; Arrived at Molesworth, UK 16-Oct-42.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 340BS/97BG Polebrook 15/4/42; transferred 390BG Framlingham 29/6/42; 407BS/92BG [PY-N] Bovingdon /9/42; 401BS/91BG [LL-X] Bassingbourn 22/7/43; 613BS/401BG [IN-P], then 612BS [SC-X] Deenethorpe, Nth. 6/11/43; /390BG Framlingham, 6/11/43; 600BS...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Hunter 22/3/44; Grenier 2/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-R] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; 111m, Returned to the USA Bradley 8/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/44; Kearney 15/3/44; Dow Fd 4/4/44; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-C] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 24/8/44 with Parker Finney, Co-pilot: Virgil Price, Navigator: Dale Scott, tog-Brown Bralley, Waist gunner: Burton...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/2/44; Gr Island 22/3/44; Grenier 20/4/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-H] Deenethorpe 13/5/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 5/3/44; Hunter 7/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-C] Deenethorpe 3/5/44; 614BS [IW-S]; 106m, Returned to the USA Bradley 7/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 14/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 16/3/44; Gr Island 1/4/44; Dow Fd 8/4/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-Q] Deenethorpe 3/5/45; Missing in Action Dessau 28/5/44 with Bill Protz, Ball turret gunner: Frank Bartak, Waist gunner: Alby Reinhardt, Waist gunner: Glenn Cliff,...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 16/3/44; Kearney 1/4/44; Grenier 14/4/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-L] Deenethorpe 29/4/44; Missing in Action Dessau 28/5/44 with Paul Scharff, Co-pilot: Chas Eckert, Bombardier: Bob Hoover, Waist gunner: Roscoe Tomlinson (4 Killed in...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 23/3/44; Hunter 9//4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-G] Deenethorpe 24/5/44; Missing in Action Dessau 28/5/44 with Fred Windham, Navigator: Carl Floto, Bombardier: Angelo Melito, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 23/3/44; Kearney 13/4/44; Grenier 15/5/44; Assigned 447BG Rattlesden 16/5/44; transferred 614BS/401BG [IW-J] Deenethorpe 30/5/44; Salvaged 10/1/45.
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Citations
Distinguished Unit Citation (Division)
Distinguished Unit Citation (Group)
European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon
Air Offensive, Europe
Normandy
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes
Central Europe