41-9021 Big Bitch/ Hangar Queen

This photo shows the crew with their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) prior to August 17, 1942.  This crew and plane were initially assigned to the 414th BS (97th BG). media-39759.jpeg UPL 39759 This photo shows the crew with their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) prior to August 17, 1942. This crew and plane were assigned to the 414th BS (97th BG) stationed at Grafton-Underwood Field (RAF Station #106). The plane and crew shown in this photo participated in the first All-American Flying Fortress bombing mission over German occupied territory (Sotteville Railroad Marshalling Yards at Rouen, France) on August 17, 1942 (Mission #1):

Pilot - Lt. Claire M. Smartt (standing far right);
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.

After the 92nd Bomb Group completed its training at Sarasota Bradenton Field in Florida in late June 1942, it was ordered to VIII Bomber Command and the RAF Field at Bovingdon in Hertfordshire, England and began arriving on August 18, 1942 with the newly modeled B 17F Flying Fortresses. On August 24, 1942, the 97th BG exchanged most of their B 17E aircraft for the newly arrived B 17F aircraft delivered by the 92nd BG. The 414th BS exchanged their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) for the B-17F 41-24400, which its Pilot 1st Lt. Claire M. Smartt named "Little Bill".

The 92nd BG conducted theater orientation training with the B-17E's exchanged with the 97th BG for the formers F series. The B-17E Hanger Queen (41-9021) was assigned to the 327th BS, 92nd BG.

For additional information, search for "Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack" on Facebook. Once you download and save the latest version of the "main" book to your PC, you will find related details in Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.

Updated by Rick Flack on December 11, 2022.

Object Number - UPL 39759 - This photo shows the crew with their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) prior to August 17, 1942. This crew and plane were assigned to the 414th BS (97th...

Boeing B-17E

41-9021

The Big Bitch (97BG)/Hangar Queen (390BG)



Polebook, England (414BS/97BG) – March 1942

Framlingham, England (390BG) – 27 June 1942

Bovingdon, England (327BS/92BG) – 24 August 1942

VIII Air Force Service Command – 9 October 1942

Salvaged – 31 May 1945



Part of strike force on VIII Bomber Command Mission 1 (17 August 1942).

Suffered first casualties for 92BG (6 September 1942).

Training aircraft and hack for 390BG.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
This photo shows the crew with their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) prior to August 17, 1942.  This crew and plane were initially assigned to the 414th BS (97th BG).
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13029268
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-789520
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Missions

Revisions

Date
ContributorGBlume
Changes
Date
ContributorGBlume
Changes
Date
ContributorGBlume
Changes
Date
ContributorGBlume
Changes
Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Oct-2014 "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

41-9021: Gallery (1 items)