42-3231 | American Air Museum

42-3231 The Inferno

media-45633.jpeg UPL 45633 B-17F-40-DL #42-3231 "The Inferno" Code: JD-M
384th BG - 545th BS - 8th AF
Shot down 12 August 1943

https://photos.384thbombgroup.com/picture.php?/20919/category/F42-3231

Object Number - UPL 45633 - B-17F-40-DL #42-3231 "The Inferno" Code: JD-M 384th BG - 545th BS - 8th AF Shot down 12 August 1943

Delivered Cheyenne 2/4/43; Dow Fd 25/5/43; Assigned 545BS/384BG [JD-M] Grafton Underwood 28/5/43; Missing in Action Gelsenkirchen 12/8/43 with Capt Rich Carrington, Co-pilot: Harvey Esty, Navigator: Robin Taber, Bombardier: Capt Mike Smithwick, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Phil Schmidlapp, Waist gunner: Joe Scholand (6 Prisoner of War), Radio Operator: Art Brittain, Ball turret gunner: Win Smalley, Waist gunner: Floyd Wingate,Tail gunner: Walt Parkins (4 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Erfstadt, near Liblar, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 287. THE INFERNO.

Connections

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Units served with

People

Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane. Four men standing to the rear and six men kneeling in front.

Robert Bruce Kilmer

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-671962
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot

Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane. Five men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front. Some of the men are wearing flying gear.

Walter Carl Parkins

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 34124122
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Phillip Elbert Schmidlapp

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 35110121
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
Role/Job: Flight Engineer

Joseph Anton Scholand

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 37280903
Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
Role/Job: waist gunner

Winford R Smalley

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Places

Missions

VIII Bomber Command 68

Date: 26 June 1943

VIII Bomber Command 65

Date: 22 June 1943

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Delivered	Cheyenne, WY, USA	2 April 1943 - 25 May 1943	For modification
Delivered	Bangor, ME,, USA	25 May 1943 - 28 May 1943	For move to England
Assigned	Grafton Underwood Airfield, UK	28 May 1943 - 12 August 1943	384th Bomb Group, 545th Bomb Squad
Crashed	Erftstadt, Germany	12 August 1943 - 12 August 1943	MIA on mission to Gelsenkirchen.  Shot down by enemy aircraft.  MACR 287