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B-17 Flying Fortress
42-107057 BK-T, SPIRIT OF 96, 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. Shot down on mission #647, 25 September 1944.
The insignia of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
B-17 42-107057 "Spirit of 96"
B-17 42-107057 "Spirit of 96"
B-17 42-107057 "Spirit of 96"
Delivered Tulsa 8/2/44; Gr Island 19/2/44; Presque Is 5/3/44; Assigned 546BS/384BG [BK-T] Grafton Underwood 11/4/44; Missing in Action Frankfurt 25/9/44 with Noel Plowman, Co-pilot: Larry Ferguson, Navigator: Ed Cheresnik, Bombardier: Carl Hart, Radio Operator: Gordon Maxa (5 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Cameron, Ball turret gunner: Armando Oliva, Waist gunner: Frank Anderson,Tail gunner: Ken Lentz (4 Prisoner of War); flak KO’d tailplane just after bombs away, crashed Bad Soden, W of Frankfurt, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 9414. SPIRIT OF '96.
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Squadron
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Wiesbaden on 9/25/44 in B-17 'Spirit of '96' #42107057
Military | Staff Sergeant | Military Occupation specialty 756-Radio Operator/Mechanic | 384th Bomb Group
Robert Bickford served as radio operator with the 546th Bomb Squadron of the 384th Bomb Group, flying missions out of Grafton Underwood, England.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Shot down in B-17 42-107057 BK-T, Spirit of "96" on 25 September 1944. POW, Missing Air Crew Report #9414.
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator, Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed near Wiesbaden in B-17 'Spirit of '96' #42-107057, MACR 9414.
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed near Wiesbaden in B-17 'Spirit of '96' 42-107057, MACR 9414.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Mayen on 10/11/44 in B-17 'Hell On Wheels' #42-97948. MACR 9479
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed near Wiesbaden in B-17 'Spirit of '96' 42-107057, MACR 9414.
Military | Major | Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to 546BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. Earl McDaniel crew. 35 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to 546BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. Francis Cepits crew. 35 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Technical Sergeant | top turret gunner and flight engineer | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Below is the list of missions he flew and the aircraft he was aboard:
...
21 September 1944
Military site : airfield
Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...
Military site : airfield
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Germany | 25 September 1944 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 30 July 2020 17:13:02 | ghichens | Changes to markings |
| Sources | ||
Greg Hichens |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 March 2015 00:06:06 | bombercommand | Changes to nicknames, place associations, mission associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
384thbombgroup.com |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:15 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 9414 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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