42-3064 Stardust

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 303rd Bomb Group line up for take off. A B-17 (VK-I, serial number 42-3064) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is bringing up the rear. First handwritten caption on reverse of print: '27/8/43.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'VK-I. 8/9/43.' On reverse: 'Confidential Until Re-Classified By Censor' [Stamp]. media-407640.jpg FRE 4251 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 303rd Bomb Group line up for take off. A B-17 (VK-I, serial number 42-3064) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is bringing up the rear. First handwritten caption on reverse of print: '27/8/43.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'VK-I. 8/9/43.' On reverse: 'Confidential Until Re-Classified By Censor' [Stamp]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4251 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 303rd Bomb Group line up for take off. A B-17 (VK-I, serial number 42-3064) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is bringing...

Delivered Cheyenne 5/2/43; Assigned 353BS/301BG Morrison 25/3/43; transferred 100BG Thorpe Abbotts /43; 358BS/303BG [VK-O] Molesworth 13/7/43; battle damaged Bremen 26/11/43 with Bill Fort wia-frostbite, Co-pilot: McDonald Riddick, Bombardier: Chas Spencer wia-frostbite, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Grover Mullins, Radio Operator: Jim Supple, Ball turret gunner: Howard Zeitner, Waist gunner: Jim Pleasant, Waist gunner: John Viszneki, Tail gunner: Bernie Sutton (9 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Harry Rocketto (Killed in Action); Returned to the USA Scott 15/4/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Albuquerque 27/7/45. STARDUST.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14066597 / O-796359
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37206148
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11056288
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-677570
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Harold Rocketto
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-683314
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Sustained battle damage

Bremen, Germany 26 November 1943 Sustained heavy damage to engines and communications gear, and had the front plexiglass nose blown out, resulting in one KIA, two WIA (one, the navigator, severely), and over half the crew treated for varying cases of frostbite.

Manufactured

Base Air Depot (BAD) 1 5 April 1944 Transferred to BAD1

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected the spelling of the surname "Rocketto".

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorCastleBren
Changes
Sources

303rd Bomb Group records

Date
ContributorCastleBren
Changes
Sources

303rd Bomb Group records

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-3064: Gallery (1 items)