42-38053 Jenny Lee aka Cap'n Crow
Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; Wendover 20/12/43; Assigned 457BG Glatton 10/2/44; transferred 349BS/100BG [XR-G] Thorpe Abbotts 21/1/44; soon after t/off to Berlin 7/5/44 with Ralph Wright, Co-pilot: Jack Raper, Navigator: Rich Curran, Bombardier: Carl Herman, Waist gunner: Randy Moore (5 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Alden Madsen, Radio Operator: Bob Montonado, Ball turret gunner: John Pontzious, Waist gunner: Jack Willburn, Tail gunner: Alf Bridges (5 RTD all inj); flares began to explode en route, fire broke out and ship crashed Herringfleet Hall, Lowestoft, Sfk. UK; sal 8/5/44. JENNY LEE aka CAP’N CROW.
(Note) - Given the position of the cheek guns in the two photos (Cap'n Crow and Jenny Lee), I don't believe that they are of the same aircraft. "Jenny Lee" appears in at least one 398th BG crew photo taken stateside, probably at Rapid City.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Private
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34211048
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37656801
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36559569
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Delivered |
26 November 1943 | ||
Crashed |
7 May 1944 | Several dozen flares stored in the top turret suddenly began to explode and set fire to the entire front of the plane. |
Revisions
Added a space before the words “Tail gunner” in the A/C “Description” section.
Updated the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.
See FLYING FORTRESS 1936 - 1945
for block identification features.
Phil Marchese
Harold Becker was not "Killed in B-17G #42-38053 'Hard Luck' in take-off or assembly accident" as stated
B17 #42-38053 was "Cap'n Crow" not 'Hard Luck'
The five men killed in B17, 42-38053 are clearly named on the memorial and Harold Becker is not among them.
Added crash site and crash event from caption information and https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_bombgrp&view=aircraft&id=10133…
Associated crew members from https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_bombgrp&view=personnel&Itemid=…