42-31183 Bad Penny
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 4212 - Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire a pin up painted on the tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-Y, serial number 42-31183). Handwritten caption...
Delivered Denver 28-Sep-43; Grand Island 21-Oct-43; Wilmington 28-Oct-43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-J] Molesworth 18-Nov-43; transferred 358BS [VK-Y]
15-Aug-44 Missing in Action on a mission to bomb the airfield at Wiesbaden, Germany. Shot down by enemy aircraft. Crashed at Wittlich, Germany near Matzen, Germany. Was assigned to the 358BS when it went MIA. Navigator 2LT Lester E. Reuss was murdered by civilians on the ground. Radio Operator Patsy Rocco was shot by a policeman during transport to Bitburg on the next day. One of 9 aircraft from the 303BG lost on this mission. Missing Air Crew Report 8170. 2KIA 7POW. BAD PENNY.
P 2LT Arthur L. Goss (POW); CP 2LT Harry J. Cook. Jr. (POW)
N 2LT Lester E Reuss (KIA); B 2LT Malcolm M. Fouts (POW)
E/TTG SGT Floyd A. Sprague (POW); RO SGT Patsy Rocco (KIA)
BTG SGT James A. Earon (POW); LWG - Not carried
RWG SGT Roy M. Stevens (POW); TG SGT Norman A. Bunney (POW)
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37357596
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-767751
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 42025593
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O769027
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O763995
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 15 August 1944
- Date: 6 March 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 15 August 1944 |
Revisions
"Review and Recommendations" paper of US trial # 12-1852 (US vs. Friedrich Scheilz)
Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Made connection to 358BS per 303BG website:http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Added Nickname and Codings, converted dates to USAAF military-style signification, added loss details, added crew position, rank, full proper name, and dispostion for alll crew members, foramtted crew display, per "Losses of the 8th & 9ht Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE, 303BG website Gary Moncur Historian, Mission Report of 15-Aug-44: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/229.pdf and MACR 8170.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 8170 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
