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42-31562

B-17 Flying Fortress

Delivered Denver 24/11/43; Kearney 11/12/43; Romulus 19/12/43; Presque Is 20/12/43; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-A] Molesworth 13/1/44; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 24/2/44 with John Henderson, cp-Ken Crook, Navigator: Warren Wiggins, Bombardier: Woodrow Monkres, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Simpkins, Radio Operator: Chas Maple, Ball turret gunner: Rich Miller, Waist gunner: Vernon Powell, Waist gunner: Norman Shuart, Tail gunner: Mike Milliff (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Boppard, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 2762.

Service

Units

  • 303rd Bomb Group

    303rd Bomb Group

    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...

  • 358th Bomb Squadron

    358th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Kenneth Crook

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group

  • John Henderson

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base. Apparently shot down near Koblenz on a mission to Schweinfurt, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31562. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Charles Maple

    Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 303rd Bomb Group
    Apparently shot down near Koblenz on a mission to Schweinfurt, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31562. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Richard Miller

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    Assigned to 358BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 17 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Schweinfurt mission, 24-Feb-44 in B-17G 42-31562. Baled out near Koblenz Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 2762 Awards: PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Mike Milliff

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    Apparently shot down near Koblenz on a mission to Schweinfurt, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31562. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Woodrow Monkres

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier; Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base. Apparently shot down near Koblenz on a mission to Schweinfurt, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31562, Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Vernon Powell

    Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    Apparently shot down near Koblenz on a mission to Schweinfurt, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31562. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Norman Shuhart

    Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    Apparently shot down near Koblenz on a mission to Schweinfurt, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-31562. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • William Simpkins

    Military | Master Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base. Flew 15 missions. Returned from rocket attack during an operational mission on 11 Jan 1944 in B-17F #42-5264 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'. RTD....

  • Warren Wiggins

    Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier / Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
    Assigned to 358 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 14 x combat missions. Shot down 20-Dec-43 in B-17 42-29664 'Jersey Bounce Jr'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to duty (RTD). Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Schweinfurt, 24-Feb-44 in B-17G 42-31562. Shot down...

Places

  • Molesworth

    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...

  • Presque Isle Army Airfield

    Military site : airfield

Events

Event Location Date
Failed to Return (FTR) Germany 24 February 1944
Nicknames
Not yet known
Production block number
B-17G-20-BO Fortress
Manufacturer
Boeing
Markings and paint scheme/livery
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
28 August 2020 03:31:29 jmoore43 Changes to description
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:40:39 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2762 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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