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William Sitler's Crew.
Back row (L-R): 2nd Lt. William (Bill) Sitler - Pilot, 2nd Lt. Charles F. Seal - Co-pilot, F/O Albert Turney - Navigator, 2nd Lt. Joseph P. Rusich - Bombardier.

Front row (L-R): S/Sgt. Edwin Braeger - Tail Gunner, S/Sgt. William H. Elmore - Gunner, S/Sgt. John Allen - Gunner, T/Sgt. Fred Blehm - Radio, T/Sgt. Vincent Bowie - Engineer.

S/Sgt. Ray Lopez-Ball Turet is missing from photo.

The aircraft is B-17 "Doodit" 42-102596. Photo was taken on 9th October 1944.

Connections

Units

  • 398th Bomb Group

    398th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 398th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire on strategic bombing raids over Germany. The Group switched focus in the days before D-Day, when they targeted enemy positions on the Cherbourg peninsula. When the Allies...

  • 601st Bomb Squadron

    601st Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Frederic Blehm

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator
    air medal

  • Vincent Bowe

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer
    Oak Leaf Cluster

  • Edwin Braeger

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner
    Air Medal

  • William Elmore

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner
    air medal

  • Charles Seal

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-pilot
    air medal

  • William Sitler

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot

  • Albert Turney

    Military | Flight Officer | Navigator
    air medal; Oak Leaf Cluster Awarded Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in sustained bomber combat operations over Germany and German-occupied countries. Flt. Officer was from Sayville, NY.

Aircraft

  • 42-102596 Doodit

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 17/3/44; Kearney 1/4/44; Grenier 14/4/44; Assigned 601BS/398BG [3O-N] Nuthampstead 28/4/44; after mission 23/2/45 with Green was AOC 23/2/45; re-ass from 2 SAD Abbotts Ripton 4/4/45; RAF Valley 1/6/45; Returned to the USA Bradley 4/6...

Locations

  • Nuthampstead

    Military site : airfield
    Built during 1942-43, Nuthampstead was the nearest Eighth Air Force heavy bomber base to London. It had three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. It was first occupied from September 1943 to April 1944 by the 55th...

Edit entry 

Collection name
398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum.
Object number
UPL 23627

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
03 January 2020 12:55:16 terveurn Changes to aircraft associations
Sources

removed connection to wrong aircraft
Date Contributor Update
15 September 2016 09:58:13 emma simpson Changes to aircraft associations
Sources

398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum.
Date Contributor Update
15 September 2016 09:57:35 emma simpson Created entry with collection, caption, unit associations, person associations and place associations
Sources

398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum.

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