42-38008 888
Delivered Cheyenne 11/11/43; Gr Island 1/12/43; New Castle 7/12/43; Nutts Corner, N.I., 20/12/43; Assigned 367BS/306BG [GY- ] Thurleigh 21/1/44; transferred 369BS; Missing in Action Berlin 8/5/44 with Lou Matichka, Co-pilot: Willis Nelson, Navigator: Walt Morris, Bombardier: Bill Stevens, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Goodwin, Radio Operator: Bob Morris, Ball turret gunner: Warren Johnson, Waist gunner: Forest Buford, Waist gunner: John Watt,Tail gunner: Jesse Watts (10INT); flak KOd two engines, ditched close to Vållö, Swedish east coast; [still there in 1982?: yes, still there 2016] Missing Air Crew Report 4669.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39180964
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
Places
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed |
383 91 Vållö, Sverige | 8 May 1944 | USAAF B-17G #42-38008 (8th AF, 306 BG, 369 BS) ditched east of island Vållö, Swedish east coast May 8th 1944. Crew of 10 saved by locals on the island, and were interned in Sweden. Aircraft floated for a while and is still intact (2016) on bottom approximately 20 m down. |
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 8 May 1944 |
Revisions
Added nickname. Several sources, Swedish research about emergency landed aircraft in Sweden during WWII.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4669 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database