42-37886 Blitzing Betsy

media-6362.jpeg UPL 6362 B-17G-15-DL
Blitzing Betsy
388th BG - 562nd BS
Code: U

Chris Brassfield

Object Number - UPL 6362 - B-17G-15-DL Blitzing Betsy 388th BG - 562nd BS Code: U

Delivered Denver 2/10/43; Gr Island 21/10/43; Assigned 562BS/388BG Knettishall 25/10/43; Missing in Action Berlin 6/3/44 with Lowell Watts captured by civilians, Co-pilot: Bob Kennedy, Navigator: Emmett Murphy, Bombardier: Ed Kelley, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Ramsey, Radio Operator: Ivan Finkle (6 Prisoner of War); Ball turret gunner: Robert Sweeney, Waist gunner: Don Taylor, Waist gunner: Raymond Hess, Tail gunner: Harold A. Brassfield (4 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft attack, causing mid-air collision with #42-40054 (388BG), crashed near Zwartemeer, near Emmen, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 3089. BLITZING BETSY.



On the return from a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-37886 Blitzin' Betsy was severely damaged by attacks from several FW190s causing it to collide with another 388th B-17, namely #42-40054, exploding in mid-air and crashing near Emmen, Holland.

 

https://www.slodrenthe.nl/b-17g-flying-fortress-42-37886-blitzing-betsy/

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39178621
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35447653
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-807969
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15382852
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30177) nicknamed "Charlene". Printed caption on reverse: '61552 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Charlene". England. 30 August 1943. Standing left to right are: 2nd Lt John N Harlan, Boise, Idaho; 1st Lt Charles Bliss, Los Angeles, California; 2nd Lt Vernon D Dunkin, Columbus, Ohio; 2nd Lt Bernard J Quenneville, Hadley, Mass. Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt Ro
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-672780
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot/Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Denver, CO, USA 2 October 1943

Assigned

Knettishall, Diss, Suffolk IP22, UK 25 October 1943 388th BG - 562nd BS

Other

First 388th BG Mission

Bordeaux, France 5 December 1943

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Klazienaveen, Netherlands 6 March 1944 Attacked by FW 190's of JG11 over the German/Dutch border on return from Berlin. Though her gunners shot down two of the attackers, Blitzing Betsy was set afire with hits to the #3 engine and to the oxygen bottles under the flight deck. Out of control she collided with the aircraft flying above her (B-17 #42-40054), knocking the ball turret off of that ship and peeling the roof away from her own flight deck. Going into a spin, the pilot, Lowell Watts was just beginning to recover from the spin with the aircraft blew apart.

Revisions

Date
ContributorYannicW
Changes
Sources

https://www.slodrenthe.nl/b-17g-flying-fortress-42-37886-blitzing-betsy/ --> website of foundation 'Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe' who placed a information panel near the crashlocation.

Date
ContributorYannicW
Changes
Sources

https://www.slodrenthe.nl/b-17g-flying-fortress-42-37886-blitzing-betsy/ --> website of foundation 'Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe' who placed a information panel near the crashlocation.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space in the A/C “Description” for clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” for clarity.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self, MACR 3089, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces,

href="http://www.388bg.info/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=388-I-FIN04-...">http://www.388bg.info/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=388-I-FIN04…;

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3089 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-37886: Gallery (3 items)