42-3227

Delivered Cheyenne 1/4/43; Presque Isle 25/5/43; Assigned 534BS/381BG [GD-G] Ridgewell 26/5/43. Pilot Hamden L. Forkner; Co-Pilot Joseph A. Kelly; Navigator Robert E. Hyatt; Bombardier Edwin L. Vincent (substitute for Keith Moore); Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Paul F. Shipe; Ball Turret Gunner Ralph E. Stease; Radio Operator Chester E. Shattuck; Left Waist Gunner Edward F. Sobolewski; Right Waist Gunner Harry H. Horton; Tail Gunner Lin F. Chew. Missing in Action 9 missions Schweinfurt 17 August 1943. Forkner, Shipe, Sobolewski and Horton evaded capture; the six others were made Prisoners of War. #42-3227 was hit by enemy aircraft, crashed near Houthem, about 6km NE of Maastricht, Holland, The Netherlands. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 661.

Connections

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Units served with

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: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18120798
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-416956
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14164586
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-797321
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-671956
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Missions

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ol Swayback, Moor Fidite
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hell's Angel
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Gloria Ann, Iris, Uncle Sammy
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Great In Lani / Sweet Is (Le) Lani
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: King Malfunction II
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Houthem, Holland, The Netherlands 17 August 1943 Shot down by fighters, crashed near Houthem, Holland

Revisions

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

Freeman; ...Story...

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 661

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 661 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database