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B-17 Flying Fortress
Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Green Hornet". Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Ground crew of "The Green Hornet". Left to right, Cpl. William E. Bowers, Route 1, Elkhart, Ind.; M/Sgt. Joseph R. Dufresne, 30 Lathrop Street, South Hadley Falls, Mass.; M/Sgt. Fletcher Hecton, 518 Twentyfirst Street, Denver, Col.; Sgt. Richard Borglan, Sturtevant, Wis.; Cpl. Everett Wise, Carnegie, Okla. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group work on the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 41-24603) nicknamed "The Green Hornet". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Green Hornet 124603. N-V.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps, all obscured].
Ground personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group work on the engines of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "The Green Hornet". Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Ground crew at work on a Fortress. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
B-17F #41-24603 "Green Hornet" [BN-Y], 303BG/359BS was assigned with a combat crew on 10-Sep-42 at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas then moved to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine 9-Oct-42; Arrived at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42.
Missing in Action 23-Jan-43 while on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. Three engines were knocked out by flak over the target and then it was shot down by FW-190 fighters. All the crew bailed out but the Pilot and Co-Pilot stayed with the aircraft because they only had one usable parachute between them and made a crash landing at Kergolay near Motreff, France The Tail Gunner, SSgt Joseph L. Markiewicz had been wounded but managed to bail out and was captured, but he died of his wounds on 12-Feb-43. (5 POW, 1 POW - DIC, 4 EVD). No MACR issued.
The aircraft participated in 9 Operations (3 were aborted). See Biography events for crew infomration.
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 | Technical Sergeant | Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Orginally assigned with the 92BG at Bovingdon, UK as an Aerial Gunner with the rank of Sergeant. He flew his first mission (and the only one with the 92BG) on 21-Oct-42.
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Sep-42 Assigned as Co-Pilot of B-17F #41-24603 [BN-Y] "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso Texas and arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard that aircraft on 22-Oct-42.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Sep-42 Assigned as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F #41-24603 [BN-Y] "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. Arrived aboard that aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24608 [BN-S] "Yahoodi", 303BG/359BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico and arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard that aircraft, the first B-17 of 303BG to arrive in England. He did not fly any missions with...
Military | Private | Ball Turret Gunner, GC | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Sep-42 Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner of B-17G #41-24603 [BN-Y] "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. Arrived aboard that aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Sep-42 Assigned as Radio Operator of B-17G #41-24603 [BN-Y] "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. Arrived aboard that aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
22-Jun-42 Assigned as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B-17F #41-24605 (BN-R) Knock-out Dropper", 303BG/359BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Arrived as Molesworth, UK aboard that aircraft on 22-Oct-42. Mission participation (See Biography...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
10-Sep-42 Assigned as a Tail Gunner on B-17G #41-24603 [BN-Y] "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. Arrived aboard that aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42.
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
2LT John W. Plummer was orginally assigned as the Bombardier on B-17F, #41-24603 "Green Hornet" [BN-Y], 303BG/359BS on 10-Sep-42 at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas and arrived with the aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42. Shot down 23 November 1942 in...
Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 303rd Bomb Group
13 Feb-42 Assigned as Operations Officer of 303 Bomb Group at Pendleton Field, Pendleton, Oregon with the rank of Major. 15-Sep-42 appointed Commanding Office of 303BG/359th Bombardment Squadron. See Biography events. MISSION participation currently...
17 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The...
18 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...
6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
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12 December 1942
4th Fighter Group conducts three operations: 41 Spitfires are despatched on shipping patrols and 6 attack a German ship; 4 Spitfires are despatched on defensive patrols; and 6 are despatched on defensive patrols along the English coast.
20 December 1942
4th Fighter Group despatches 36 Spitfires as a diversion for RAF 'Circus' 244. For definition of 'Circus' see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_RAF_code_names
30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
3 January 1943
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...
13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
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...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assigned with Combat Crew | Biggs Field, TX 79918, USA | 10 September 1942 |
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Assigned with combat crew on 10-Sep-42, Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas. Original Crew P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson; CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. |
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| Transfer for Deployment | Bangor, ME, USA | 9 October 1942 – 21 October 1942 |
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Transferred to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine in preparation for deployment to the UK. Crew aboard: |
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| Arrived in UK | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 22 October 1942 |
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Arrived at Molesworth, UK with the following crew: P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson; CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. |
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| Mission #1, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 |
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CREW B-17F 41-24603, "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman (RTD) |
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| Mission #2, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 |
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CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) |
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| Mission #3, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. CMP MAJ Eugene A. Romig (RTB); CP 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB) |
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| Mission #4, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) |
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| Mission #5, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) |
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| Mission #6, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) |
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| Mission #7, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 |
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CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) |
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| Mission #8, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (RTB); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (RTB) |
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| Mission #9, B-17F 41-24603, 303BG/359BS - MIA | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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CREW B-17F 41-24603 "Green Hornet", 303BG/359BS. Last Operation P 1LT Ellis J. Sanderson (WIA/POW); CP 2LT Horace D. Bowman, Jr. (POW) |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 February 2020 02:17:06 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 30 October 2019 18:56:20 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Corrected typos in the "Description" section. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 September 2019 20:40:37 | Markie53 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Corrected typo "bale" to "bail" on Mission #11 report |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 September 2019 20:37:19 | Markie53 | Changes to markings |
| Sources | ||
Corrected radio call sign from "Y" to "V". |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 30 March 2019 20:55:07 | jmoore43 | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Corrected nickname by adding the word "The". |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 September 2017 12:28:24 | Al_Skiff | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Roger Freeman Photo. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 21:59:51 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #9 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 21:53:27 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #8 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of1 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 21:43:15 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #7 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 21:39:08 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 21:36:09 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description and events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303G website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 21:22:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 21:14:31 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 21:07:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 21:03:14 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 20:57:07 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Ellis J. Sanderson crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-sanderson.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 20:53:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Transfer for Deployment event per "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story", Roger A, Freeman with David Osborne B-17F 41-24603 History Summary. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 20:49:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description and events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Asssigned with Combat Crew evenr per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Ellis J. Sanderson crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-sanderson.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 December 2015 20:39:56 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2015. Added Initial crw assigment and mission participation statement to Summary Biography; made connections to all mission participations per my research of 303BG Mission Reports, 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 January 2015 22:19:58 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to nicknames, markings, description, unit associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 20-Jan-2015. Added nickname , markings, FTR event, and description details per 'Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. Added crew position, rank, full proper name, and dispositions per 303rd Bomb Group website data, historian Gary Moncur, formatted crew display. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:03 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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