42-52582 The Worry Bird
Frank E. Wolf Crew/B.B. Skaggs Crew
466th BG - 785th and 786th Bomb Squadrons
Standing Left to Right: Kenneth C. Trescott (LWG), Carrol H. Lawrence (R/O), Loren D. Caskey (RWG), Vernon L. Zoff (TG), Eugene A. Lang (BTG)
Kneeling Left to Right: Frank E. Wolf (P), James H. Johnson (CP), Joseph H. Mollengraft (B), Herbert S. Cox (FE)
It appears that Wolf never lead this crew into combat. B.B. Skaggs took over the crew as pilot and Marney Mason took over as co-pilot. The crew with Skaggs and Mason in the cockpit were shot down on their 2nd mission, 11 April 1944. Herbert Cox was the only man to survive the shoot down. He was made P.O.W. The original co-pilot, James H. Johnson was KIA exactly one month later when he was shot down the John C. MacDonald Crew (Crew #519) exactly one month later on 11 May 1944. Frank Wolf was returned to flying status and led crew #548 for 27 missions from August 1944 to January 1945.
466th Bomb Group collection
Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom
Object Number - UPL 17426 - Crew #512/620 Frank E. Wolf Crew/B.B. Skaggs Crew 466th BG - 785th and 786th Bomb Squadrons Standing Left to Right: Kenneth C. Trescott (LWG),...
Shot down by German fighters. Last seen going down with it's bomb bay on fire.
B.B. Skaggs Crew
MACR 3845. Fuselage parts recovered 1981:Boswiede/Giethoorn
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12168685
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17060549
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer - Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39461143
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-663540
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Missions
![A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Ruth L", flown by Lieutenant NL Young, of the 96th Bomb Group flies through a cascade of bombs released by another Fortress over Oranienburg, Germany. Strike camera photo. Handwritten caption on reverse: '22/3/44. Looks like JW code - 92BG? [sic]Supposedly Bremen raid but bombs look like M47.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408680.jpg.webp?itok=47P7nfd_)
- Date: 22 March 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
11 April 1944 | Shot down by German fighters. Last seen going down with it's bomb bay on fire. B.B. Skaggs Crew MACR 3845. Fuselage parts recovered 1981:Boswiede/Giethoorn |