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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 30/1/43; Salina 12/2/43; Morrison 28/2/43; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-C] Molesworth 21/3/43; Missing in Action Bremen 20/12/43 with John Henderson, Co-pilot: Capt Merle Hungerford, Navigator: Warren Wiggins, Bombardier: Woodrow Monkres, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Simpkins, Radio Operator: Forrest Vosler (awarded Con. Medal of Honor), Ball turret gunner: Ed Ruppel, Waist gunner: Ralph Burkhart, Waist gunner: Stan Moody, Tail gunner: George Buske Wounded in Action (10 Returned to Duty); flak, ditched North Sea, two miles off Happisburgh, Nfk. all rescued by MV Empire Sportsman. JERSEY BOUNCE Jr. No MACR.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Squadron
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Pilot in the 360th Squadron.
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base.
Died in rocket attack during an operational mission on 11 Jan 1944 in B-17F #42-5264 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'.
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr'. Plane ditched in Channel. Wounded in Action (WIA). Rescued and Returned to base.
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base.
Apparently shot down near Koblenz on a mission to Schweinfurt, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31562. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Captain | Co-Pilot; Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Co-Pilot of B-17 #42-29664 "Jersey Bounce Jr", shot down by Flak and fighters and ditched in North Sea on the mission to Bremen on 20 December 1943. All crew returned (RTD) - No MACR. Was Pilot of B-17F #42-3029 "Wallaroo", shot down by Flak on mission...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
15-Sep-42 Assigned as Co-Pilot to B-17F #41-24539 [VK-K] "Jersey Bounce", 303BG/358BS at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, Michigan. 10-Oct-42 moved with aircraft and crew to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine in preparation for deployment ovreseas. 16-Oct-42 Arrived...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier; Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base.
Apparently shot down near Koblenz on a mission to Schweinfurt, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31562, Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Commanding Officer | 303rd Bomb Group
15-Sep-42 Assigned as Pilot, with crew, to B-17F #41-24539 [VK-K] "Jersey Bounce", 303BG/358BS at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, Michigan. 10-Oct-42 moved with aircraft and crew to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine in preparation for deployment ovreseas. 16-Oct...
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner/Radioman | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 358BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 26 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
Not yet known
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 September 2020 19:50:57 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 October 2019 22:34:28 | jmoore43 | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Corrected spelling of nickname. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 October 2019 22:32:49 | jmoore43 | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Added nickname per description for A/C 42-29664. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:23 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log |
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