42-31823

Delivered Denver 25/12/43; Tulsa 9/1/44; Maxwell 14/1/44; Lakeland 16/1/44; Morrison 14/2/44; Assigned 772BS/463BG Celone 15/2/44; Transferred 341BS/97BG Amendola 3/44

Missing in Action 19/3/44 training mission with Major George Burgess, Co-pilot: Capt Foster Cash, Navigator: Paul Schwartz, Bombardier: Capt Ernie Anderson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ed Franz, Radio Operator: Bob Molan, Ball turret gunner: Joe King, Waist gunner: Adrian Lapacek, Waist gunner: Viv Amero, Tail gunner: Elwood Kerschner (10 Killed in Action); mid air coll with #42-38143 (2BG); tail cut off, crashed Adriatic Sea; Missing Air Crew Report 3286 (of 2BG).

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-5287) of the 463rd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight with open bomb bay doors. Handwritten caption on reverse: '463 BG Gills.'

463rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Ernest H Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 341st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-725397
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

George D Burges

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 341st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-430567
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Foster Lawson Cash

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 341st Bomb Squadron 772nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-421042
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Paul Schwartz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 341st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-672983
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-5287) of the 463rd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight with open bomb bay doors. Handwritten caption on reverse: '463 BG Gills.'

Celone

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Foggia Satellite #1, San Nicola-d'Arpi

Aircraft

42-38143

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 49th Bomb Squadron 463rd Bomb Group 775th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

18500 E 6th Ave, Aurora, CO 80011, USA 25 December 1943 Delivered Denver AAF 25-Dec-43.

Assigned

Via S. Severo, km. 4, 71121 Foggia FG, Italy 15 February 1944 Assigned 772BS/463BG Celone 15-Feb-44.

Crashed

Gulf of Manfredonia, Italy 19 March 1944 Missing in Action 19-Mar-44 training mission mid air collision with 42-38143 (2BG); tail cut off, crashed Adriatic Sea; MACR 3286.

Manufactured

Seattle, WA, USA Built at Boeing.

Assigned

71040 Amendola FG, Italy Transferred 341BS/97BG Amendola Mar-44.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.

Added the Production block number per info on the internet.

SOURCE:   https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/production-block/b-17g-30-bo-42-31732-4…

 

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28624265

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28624265

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log