42-3283 Yankee Queen
Delivered Denver 22/4/43; Dow Fd 6/6/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-E] Framlingham 25/5/43; Horham 15/6/43. Nicknamed YANKEE QUEEN. Crash-landed during assembly for Hanau mission 4/10/43 with Pilot: Harry O'Neal, Co-pilot: Frank Sances, Navigator: Draper Hand, Bombardier: Joe Krepley, Flight no engineer/top turret gunner: Ernie Rape, Radio Operator: Warren Irving, Ball turret gunner: Chas Zakzeski, Waist gunner: Chas Stafford, Tail gunner: Stan Michaels. All 10 WIA but Returned to Duty, except Joe Krepley who returned to US and spent 7 months in a cast. Engine #3 had caught fire and the aircraft crash-landed at Whitegate Farm, 500 yards from the southern end of Earls Colne airfield in Essex (AAF-358). One 1,000lb bomb exploded before others made safe; farmhouse destroyed. Aircraft salvaged 30/1/44.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Engineer
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 4 October 1943
- Date: 27 September 1943
- Date: 23 September 1943
- Date: 16 September 1943
- Date: 9 September 1943
Revisions
Corrected bombardier's name; added specific site of crash-landing according to Earls Colne Museum information
Original incident report by pilot Harry O'Neal (see images section)
Earls Colne Museum (village) archive
Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.