42-31969

Delivered Cheyenne 8/1/44; Billings 14/1/44; Savannah 24/1/44; Assigned 381BG Ridgewell 6/2/44; transferred 369BS/306BG [WW-F] Thurleigh 22/2/44; Bombardier: F/O Dominic Giosso (KIA-pilot was Bill Tarr) 26/3/44; Missing in Action Berlin 8/5/44 with Edwin Schlect, Co-pilot: Frank Hunt, Navigator: Edwin Gorder, Bombardier: Dick Ware, Radio Operator: Chas Pillen, Ball turret gunner: Stan Michalicki, Waist gunner: Chester Hinds, Waist gunner: John Wharton, Tail gunner: John Handenshield (9 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Davis (Prisoner of War); upset by prop wash caused mid air coll with two other B-17s wreckage falling on each other, crashed Halenbeck, near Freyenstein, nine miles NW of Wittstock, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 4553.

Connections

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Units served with

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17161015
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 8 May 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorwchoff
Changes
Sources

Wayne Tolmachoff

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4553 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database