42-102416 Lady Luck

John A Miller, a waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group wears an A-2 Flying Jacket decorated with the nose art of the B-17 Flying Fortress he flew in, a B-17 (serial number 42-102416) nicknamed "Lady Luck". John A Miller has handwritten on reverse: 'July 1944 349th BS- 100th BG. S/Sgt John A Miller & Jacket (A-2 Jacket). The artist was 5 bombs short, but I shipped out before he got the chance to paint on 5 more. I'm only foolin'! I'm not doing what it looks like I'm doing!' media-379967.jpg FRE 1652 John A Miller, a waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group wears an A-2 Flying Jacket decorated with the nose art of the B-17 Flying Fortress he flew in, a B-17 (serial number 42-102416) nicknamed "Lady Luck". John A Miller has handwritten on reverse: 'July 1944 349th BS- 100th BG. S/Sgt John A Miller & Jacket (A-2 Jacket). The artist was 5 bombs short, but I shipped out before he got the chance to paint on 5 more. I'm only foolin'! I'm not doing what it looks like I'm doing!' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1652 - John A Miller, a waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group wears an A-2 Flying Jacket decorated with the nose art of the B-17 Flying Fortress he flew in,...

Cheyenne 1/3/44; Hunter 14/3/44; Grenier 11/4/44; Assigned 349BS/100BG [XR-H] Thorpe Abbotts 19/4/44; Missing in Action St Lo, 25/7/44 with Larry Townsend, Co-pilot: Andy Burkhart, Navigator: Arnold Holmes, Bombardier: George Gardner, Radio Operator: Lou Glasser, Ball turret gunner: Chalmers Anderson, Waist gunner: Gordon Lane, Tail gunner: Earl Milam (8 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Walt Kolar (EVD, joined US tank crew); flak KO’d #2, crashed coastal area of France. Missing Air Crew Report 7837. LADY LUCK.

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Units served with

People

Personnel of the 100th Bomb Group, including John A Miller enjoy a boat trip in Italy. John A Miller, A veteran waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group has handwritten on reverse: About June 30, 1944. We had left Russia + were based near Foggia, Italy. (1st shuttle raid to Russia- Italy) on this day we went up to Manfredonia + went swimming + sailing in the Adriatic Sea. Lt to Rt: Larry Townsend (P), Walt Kolar (TT), John A Miller (RW), Italian boatman. Front: Louis Glasser (R), Ed Fehrenkamp (CP). 5 of the

Walter W Kolar

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Gordon M Lane

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Earl C Milam

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Staff Sergeant John A Miller and Alden "Pat" Madsen of the 100th Bomb Group. John A Miller has handwritten on reverse: 'July 1944, 349th BS-100th BG. Lt: John A Miller, Rt: Alden "Pat" Madsen. Taken after I returned from Bury St Edmonds where I received the DFC.'

John A Miller

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Personnel of the 100th Bomb Group, including John A Miller enjoy a boat trip in Italy. John A Miller, A veteran waist gunner of the 100th Bomb Group has handwritten on reverse: About June 30, 1944. We had left Russia + were based near Foggia, Italy. (1st shuttle raid to Russia- Italy) on this day we went up to Manfredonia + went swimming + sailing in the Adriatic Sea. Lt to Rt: Larry Townsend (P), Walt Kolar (TT), John A Miller (RW), Italian boatman. Front: Louis Glasser (R), Ed Fehrenkamp (CP). 5 of the

Lawrence E Townsend

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

France 25 July 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a unit connection to the 8th AF.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 7837 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-102416: Gallery (1 items)