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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned RAF [FA677] but transferred 419BS/301BG Westover 6-Aug-42; Podington 6-Aug-42; ditched Channel just off Margate, on return from Lille 9-Oct-42 aircraft flew 3 missions. Crew rescued, the first such 8AF sea rescue. No MACR issued. 10 RTD.
P 1Lt Donald M. Swenson (RTD; CP 1Lt Frederick A. Bidelspach (RTD)
M 2Lt Morton K. Hoerster (RTD); 1Lt Alexander G. Cockersole, Jr. (RTD)
E/TTG TSgt Joseph H. Schwaller (RTD); RO TSgt Frank L. Sears (RTD)
BTG Sgt Millard C. Brock (RTD); WG SSgt Forest W. Bertsch (RTD)
WG Pvt Charles L. Irwin (RTD); TG MSgt Glen H. Doerr (RTD)
Group
Activated 3-February-1942 at Geiger Field, Washington and equipped with B-17s. On 27-May-1942 the ground unit moved to Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, and the aircraft went to Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards Air Force Base), California for...
Squadron
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 301st Bomb Group
While serving as a Waist Gunner on B-17F #41-24362 the aircraft was ditched into the English Channel 9 October 1942. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD). First successful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 301st Bomb Group
Served as Co:Pilot of B-17F #41-24362 ditched in Channel 9 October 1942. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD). First successful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO.
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 301st Bomb Group
While serving as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24362 the aircraft was ditched into the English Channel 9 October 1942. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD). First successfull ditching of a B-17 in the ETO
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 301st Bomb Group
While serving as Bombardier on B-17F #41-24362 the aircraft was ditched into the English Channel 9 October 1942. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD). First successful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO.
Military | Master Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 301st Bomb Group
While serving as Tail Gunner of B-17F 41-24362 ditched in Channel 9 October 1942. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD). First successful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO.
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 301st Bomb Group
While serving as Navigator on B-17F #41-24362 the aircraft was ditched into the English Channel 9 October 1942. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD). First successful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 301st Bomb Group
While serving as a Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24362 aircraft was ditched in Channel 9 October 1942. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD). First successful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 301st Bomb Group
While serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F #41-24362 the aircraft was ditched into the English Channel 9 October 1942. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD) First succ.essful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 301st Bomb Group
While serving as Radio Operator on B-17F #41-24362 the aircraft was ditched into the English Channel 9 October 1942. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD). First successful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO.
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 301st Bomb Group
While serving as Pilot of B-17F 41-24362 he ditched the aircraft in the English Channel one mile off of Margate 9 October 1942 on return from Lille, France. Returned to base. First successful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO.
9 October 1942
Bombers are dispatched to bomb the steel and engineering works of the Compagnie de Fives at Lille, France and the locomotive and freight car works of Ateliers d'Hellemmes at Lille which are the Primary (P) targets. Other targets are Courtrai Airfield,...
Military site : airfield
Chelveston was adapted and expanded in preparation for the arrival of American forces. Rather than heavy bombers, the first aircraft to fly from its runways were C-47 Skytrains that were flown by the 60th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942. The first...
Military site : airfield
Built originally to accommodate two RAF bomber squadrons, the first USAAF unit to occupy the base was the 15th Bomb Squadron in September 1942. Podington was then used as a satellite for nearby Chelveston. Work to lengthen the runways, although this...
Not yet known
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 09 September 2020 20:34:12 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added punctuation to the "Description" to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 November 2014 18:57:58 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Nov-2014. Format description. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 24 October 2014 16:17:32 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to production block number, manufacturer, description, unit associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 24-Oct-2014. 'Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces' Stan Bishop &John A. Hey MBE. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:02 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log |
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