42-31580 Merry Widow
Right of picture B-17G 42-39975 with B-17G 42-31580 "Merry Widow" out in front of its nose.
Object Number - UPL 35288 - "A formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 91st Bomb Group, 8Th AF, enroute to target of the day -- Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. 18 March...
Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; Paine Fd 27/11/43; Portland 3/12/43; Cheyenne 5/12/43; Kearney 12/12/43; Sth Bend 3/1/44; Grenier 8/1/44; Presque Is 12/1/44; Prestwick 15/1/44; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-A] Bassingbourn 29/1/44; Missing in Action Berlin 7/5/44 with Nenad Kovachevich, Co-pilot: Bill Thurman (2 Killed in Action); Navigator: Ed Wallner, Bombardier: Eleuterio Rodriguez, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Fred Parkins, Radio Operator: Ralph Liedke, Ball turret gunner: Don Pilcher, Waist gunner: Bernie Balletiere,Tail gunner: Bill Reynolds (7 Prisoner of War); flak #3 plus other damage, crashed Heidenau, SW of Hamburg, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 4579. MERRY WIDOW.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-802582 and 15080361 on enlisting
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is
Missions
- Date: 7 May 1944
- Date: 6 March 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
Cheyenne, WY, USA | 26 November 1943 | Delivered Cheyenne AAF 26-Nov-43. |
|
Assigned |
Bassingbourn cum Kneesworth, Royston SG8, UK | 29 January 1944 | Assigned 323BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
Heidenau, Germany | 7 May 1944 - 7 May 1944 | Missing in Action Berlin 7-May-44 flak, disabled #3 plus other damage, crashed Heidenau, SW of Hamburg MACR 4579. |
|
Manufactured |
Long Beach, CA, USA | Built at Boeing. |
Revisions
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4579 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
