41-24617 Southern Comfort
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-J] Presque 19/10/42; Grafton Underwood 25/10/42; fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31/3/43 with Hugh Ashcraft, Co-pilot: Bill Lakey, Navigator: Bert Wells, Bombardier: Jim Moberley, Radio Operator: Doug Glover, Ball turret gunner: Ray Armstrong, Waist gunner: Jim Patterson, Waist gunner: Frank Corser, Tail gunner: Frank Hilsabeck (9 Returned to Duty);
Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Steve Gogoyla Killed in Service -killed when slipped out of his chute after nearing Tolleshunt Major, a couple of miles away; pilot eventually brought the ship staggering back to crash land in woods at Beacon Hill, near Wickham Bishops, Witham, Ex., UK.; sal 1/4/43. SOUTHERN COMFORT.
A/C appears taxiing in after mission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEm49EgG1hs
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14049827 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13041005
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Missions
- Date: 31 March 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
Beacon Hill, Wickham Bishops, Witham, Essex, UK | 31 March 1943 | Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31/3/43. Crew baled out over England with TTG slipping out of his harness (KIA) [9 x RTD], pilot eventually brought the ship staggering back to crash land in woods at Beacon Hill, near Wickham Bishops, Witham, Eng. |
Other Salvaged |
Beacon Hill, Wickham Bishops, Witham, Essex, UK | 1 April 1943 | Salvaged 1/4/43. |
Assigned |
Grafton Underwood, UK | Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Updated the Production block number per info on the internet.
SOURCE: https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/production-block/b-17f-27-bo-41-24585-4…
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.