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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 27/9/43; MAT COM Wright Fd 10/10/43; Langley 6/12/43; Assigned 813BS/482BG [PC-K] fitted with Oboe Mk II radar Alconbury 22/11/43; transferred 545BS/384BG [JD-Z] Grafton Underwood 5/2/44; t/o as spare for a mission, but mechanical problems arrived and crash landed near Nuthampstead A/fd 24/3/44 with Scott Briley, Co-pilot: Jim Dent, Navigator: Leon Dubin, Bombardier: Joe Petrush, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Elvie Rodden, Radio Operator: Henry Watson, Ball turret gunner: Saul Schelberg, Waist gunner: Albt Krizner, Waist gunner: Howard LeConey, Tail gunner: Edwin Fulkerson (10 Returned to Duty); Salvaged 2 SAD Lt Staughton. MISS BILLIE JR.
Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Squadron
Squadron
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
Attacked by fighters and the pilot injured and several fires on board on mission to Brunswick on 30 Jan 1944, B-17G #42-31415. Returned with the fires extinguished but five of the crew had bailed out over Germany. Returned to Duty (RTD). Awarded The...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31166 'Miss Billie Jr' lost two engines after takeoff as the spare for an operational mission on 24 Mar 1944 and was forced to make a wheels up emergency landing in a field W of Nuthampstead. RTD. Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4231048....
Military | Navigator | 384th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31166 'Miss Billie Jr' lost two engines after takeoff as the spare for an operational mission on 24 Mar 1944 and was forced to make a wheels up emergency landing in a field W of Nuthampstead. RTD.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31166 'Miss Billie Jr' lost two engines after takeoff as the spare for an operational mission on 24 Mar 1944 and was forced to make a wheels up emergency landing in a field W of Nuthampstead. RTD. Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #4231048....
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31166 'Miss Billie Jr' lost two engines after takeoff as the spare for an operational mission on 24 Mar 1944 and was forced to make a wheels up emergency landing in a field W of Nuthampstead. RTD.
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Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31166 'Miss Billie Jr' lost two engines after takeoff as the spare for an operational mission on 24 Mar 1944 and was forced to make a wheels up emergency landing in a field W of Nuthampstead. RTD. Shot down 13 April 1944 in B-17 #42-31048....
Military | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31166 'Miss Billie Jr' lost two engines after takeoff as the spare for an operational mission on 24 Mar 1944 and was forced to make a wheels up emergency landing in a field W of Nuthampstead. RTD.
Military | Technical Sergeant | MOS 748 - Top Turret Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31166 'Miss Billie Jr' lost two engines after takeoff as the spare for an operational mission on 24 Mar 1944 and was forced to make a wheels up emergency landing in a field W of Nuthampstead, RTD.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31166 'Miss Billie Jr' lost two engines after takeoff as the spare for an operational mission on 24 Mar 1944 and was forced to make a wheels up emergency landing in a field W of Nuthampstead. RTD.
...
Military | Technical Sergeant | MOS 757 - Radio Operator | 384th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31166 'Miss Billie Jr' lost two engines after takeoff as the spare for an operational mission on 24 Mar 1944 and was forced to make a wheels up emergency landing in a field W of Nuthampstead. RTD.
...
Military site : airfield
Alconbury had been constructed as a satellite airfield for RAF Upwood and Wyton and was used by RAF Squadrons: Nos. 15, 40 and 156. In preparation for the arrival of American heavy bombers, the base was developed in 1942 with the runways extended. When...
Military site : airfield
Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...
Military site : airfield
Built during 1942-43, Nuthampstead was the nearest Eighth Air Force heavy bomber base to London. It had three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. It was first occupied from September 1943 to April 1944 by the 55th...
Not yet known
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 25 December 2020 20:55:27 | jmoore43 | Changes to nicknames and description |
| Sources | ||
Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2020 12:33:58 | phil marchese | Changes to markings |
| Sources | ||
Images. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:36 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
AAIR 44-03-24-524 / Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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