41-24591 Rigor Mortis

A bomber crew of the 384th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Rigor Mortis". Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 12 Jun 1943.' [stamp] and '269268.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"RIGOR MORTIS" CARRIES LIVE BOMBS AFTER RAID. Associated Press Photo shows: The full crew of the "Rigor Mortis" at their base after their return from Wilhelmhaven Friday, June 11. Front row, left to right: Sgt. William Mooney, Chicago; Sgt. Bernard M Knight media-380086.jpg FRE 1289 A bomber crew of the 305th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Rigor Mortis". Image stamped on reverse: "Associated Press."[stamp], 'Passed for publication 12 Jun 1943.' [stamp] and '269268.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"RIGOR MORTIS" CARRIES LIVE BOMBS AFTER RAID. Associated Press Photo shows: The full crew of the "Rigor Mortis" at their base after their return from Wilhelmhaven Friday, June 11. Front row, left to right: Sgt. William Mooney, Chicago; Sgt. Bernard M Knight, Pittsburgh, PA; Sgt. Frank Brinski, Pittsburgh, PS; Sgt. Peter Hnatuick, Hazelton, PA; Sgt. Anley Farmworth, Bakersfield, Calif; (second row): Capt Smith; 1/Lt. FL McIntyre, Reno, Nevada; 2/Lt. Howard Gardener; 2/Lt. Roger Moran, Hornell, NY and Sgt. JK Kunz.' Roger Freeman Collection

Correction/edit to caption text

Object Number - FRE 1289 - A bomber crew of the 305th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Rigor Mortis". Image stamped on reverse: "Associated Press."[stamp],...

Assigned 366BS/305BG [KY-B] Presque Is 20/10/42; Grafton Underwood 29/10/42; Missing in Action Stuttgart 6/9/43 with Ray Halliday, Co-pilot: Russ Brooke, Navigator: Bob Curtis, Bombardier: Clarry Veach, Radio Operator: Joe McKegney, Waist gunner: Alf Jawerewski (6 Prisoner of War), Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Tom Shaver, Waist gunner: Tony Marandola, Tail gunner: Duane Lawhead (3 evaded capture), Ball turret gunner: Steve Dorko (Killed in Action); mech failure, crashed Buchy, 19 miles SE of Dieppe, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 1344 & 2155. RIGOR MORTIS.

Connections

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

Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.

305th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Russell M Brooke

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Robert J Curtis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Stephen A Dorko

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Raymond E Holliday

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Alfred A Jawerewski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Presque Isle, ME, USA 20 October 1942 Presque Isle 20-Oct-42.

Assigned

Grafton Underwood, Kettering NN14, UK 29 October 1942 Based with 366BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

76750 Buchy, France 6 September 1943 Missing in Action Stuttgart 6/9/43 mech failure, crashed Buchy, 19 miles SE of Dieppe. 3 x EVD, 6 x POW, 1 x KIA MACR 1344 & 2155.

Manufactured

Seattle, WA, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28692647?terms=41-24591
https://www.fold3.com/image/28692647
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=41-24591&Submit6=Go

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1344 / MACR 2155 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

41-24591: Gallery (8 items)

A 366th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (KY-B, serial number 41-24591) taxiis to take off from Chelveston airbase. Passed for publication 30 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'KY-B.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Fortress Station In Britain. From an American base in Britain the Flying Fortresses carry out operational activities which result in terrible blows against the German industrial war machine. This series of pictures shows scenes at a Flying Fortresses station where

Object number: FRE 10429 - A 366th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17...

A 366th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (KY-B, serial number 41-24591) taxiis to take off from Chelveston airbase. Passed for publication 30 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Fortress Station In Britain. From an American base in Britain the Flying Fortresses carry out operational activities which result in terrible blows against the German industrial war machine. This series of pictures shows scenes at a Flying Fortresses station where hige[sic] bombers take off for the raid

Object number: FRE 10435 - A 366th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17...

A bomber crew of the 384th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Rigor Mortis". Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 12 Jun 1943.' [stamp] and '269268.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"RIGOR MORTIS" CARRIES LIVE BOMBS AFTER RAID. Associated Press Photo shows: The full crew of the "Rigor Mortis" at their base after their return from Wilhelmhaven Friday, June 11. Front row, left to right: Sgt. William Mooney, Chicago; Sgt. Bernard M Knight

Object number: FRE 1289 - A bomber crew of the 305th Bomb Group with their B...

A B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 41-24591) of the 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group takes off. Handwritten caption on reverse: '30/6/43.'

Object number: FRE 4283 - A B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 41-24591)...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (KY-B, serial number 41-24591) of the 366th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group prepares for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: '29/6/43.' On reverse: Keystone Publishing Ltd [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 4284 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (KY-B, serial number 41...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24591) of the 305th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '30/6/43.'

Object number: FRE 4298 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24591) of...

A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th Bomb Group, in formation returning from Lille. Printed caption on reverse: 'Vapor trails made by Boeing B-17's returning from Lille, France. US Air Force Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'KY-A, 25085?. KY-B, 124591 "Rigor Mortis". KY-C, 25078. JJ-Q, 25060. JJ-R, 123614 "Snafu". XK-U "Wham Bam". XK-P "Flapper".

Object number: FRE 923 - A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th...

Object number: UPL 33101 - "Boeing B-17s returning from Lille creating a...