42-29816 The Eager Beaver

media-26264.jpeg UPL 26264 Lt William H Wheeler and crew of the 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, beside The Boeing B-17 42-29816 "The Eager Beaver". England.

NARA Ref 342-FH-3A10658-C62772AC.

Object Number - UPL 26264 - Lt William H Wheeler and crew of the 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, beside The Boeing B-17 42-29816 "The Eager Beaver"....

Delivered Denver 22/2/43; Salina 3/3/43; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-K] Bassingbourn 19/4/43; Missing in Action Amiens Glisy 31/8/43 with Buster Peek, Co-pilot: Bill Edwards, Navigator: Merlen Crist, Bombardier: Roger Fuller, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Wade Boggan, Radio Operator: Paul Payne, Ball turret gunner: Nelson Sanschagrin, Waist gunner: Ed Niebojewski, Waist gunner: Tom Power (9 Killed in Action), Tail gunner: Chas Allen (RTD – picked up by Air Sea Rescue within minutes); collision with #41-24523 (91st) on assembly to target and tail snapped off, crashed Channel. Missing Air Crew Report 671. THE EAGER BEAVER.

Connections

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

Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15102666
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34133944
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-673485
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Missions

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Golly, Lil Audrey, Snooks
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

English Channel 31 August 1943 Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Amiens Glisy collision with 41-24523 (91st) on assembly to target and tail snapped off, crashed Channel. 31-Aug-43. 1 x RTD, 9 x KIA. MACR 671.

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA, USA Built at Boeing.

Delivered

Denver, CO, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Assigned

Bassingbourn, Royston SG8 5LP, UK Assigned 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 671 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-29816: Gallery (2 items)