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4 May 1943
Official USAAF photo caption : "A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" (A/C No. 33057) of the 91st Bomb Group heads for the runway at Bassingbourne, England prior to take-off on a mission over Antwerp, Belgium on 4 May 1943."
The crew of 41-24635 on return from the 4 May 1943 mission to the Ford and General Motors plants at Antwerp, Belgium. Left to Right: S/Sgt Willam C. Mulgrew, Ball Turret Gunner; S/Sgt Richard C. Fortunak, Left Waist Gunner; T/Sgt Roman R. Zaorski, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner; S/Sgt Murel A. Murphy, Right Waist Gunner; Captain Robert J. Yonkman, Bombardier; Lt. Colonel William A. Hatcher, Co-Pilot (CO of the 351st Bomb Group); Captain William R. Calhoun, Pilot; 1st Lt Joseph M. Strickland, Navigator; T/Sgt Charles R. Terry, Radio Operator; S/Sg Willard W. Stephen, Tail Gunner; Captain Clark Gable, Top Gunner. (Official USAAF photo)
"Archbishop Francis J Spellman and 1st Lt Hunt, Catholic Chaplain, talk to Capt Oscar O'Neill of Rio de Janeiro and members of the crew of the Boeing B-17 "Invasion II" at the 91st Bomb Group base at Bassingbourne, England before take off". - 5-Apr-43: Capt Oscar D O'Neil & crew, 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st BG, prepare for a sortie to Antwerp aboard B-17F 42-5070 "Invasion II" (coded LL-A). A short visit with Archbishop Spellman before departure doesn't hurt, either. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A14827-23893AC.
Not yet known
The Ford and General Motors vehicle plants at Antwerp, Belgium are the primary target for this mission. 79-B-17 are despatched 91BG (25); 303BG (27) and 305BG (27). 65 0f the 79 despatched are effective on the target. There is moderate flak and fighter opposition. No aircraft in this formation are lost, 16 are damaged. The bomber gunners claim 10-0-2 on enemy aircraft.
NOTE: The lead aircraft from 303BG is B-17F 41-24635 "Eight Ball II", aboard as observers are Hollywood actor Capt Clark Cable and a cameraman. Capt Cable is serving with the 351st Bomb Group which is still in the process of becoming operational. He has been assigned, along with a team of six former motion picture employees, to make a film to be used in the training of 8th Air Force bomber gunners. He is anxious to get started on the project and manages to "hitch" this ride in the "Eight Ball II". During the mission, the aircraft is attacked by German fighters and Capt Gable mans the radio room gun. The aircraft is only slightly damaged.
The formation attacking at Antwerp, Belgium are supported by 20 B-17s despatched from 306BG and 13 B-24s despatched from 44BG to fly a diversion. No losses or claims.
DIVERSION
B-17 Flying Fortress
Not yet known
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 20 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 20 |
DIVERSION
B-24 Liberator
Not yet known
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
| Number of aircraft Sent | 13 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 13 |
FORD and GM PLANTS
B-17 Flying Fortress
No fighter escort on this mission.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
The 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy), nicknamed "Can Do" was activated 1-March-1942 at Salt Lake City Air Base, Utah which was their primary training base until 11-Jun-1942 when they relocated to Geiger Field, Washington until 29-Jun-1942, then on to...
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
| Tonnage dropped | 161.50 |
| Number of aircraft Sent | 79 |
| Number of aircraft Effective | 65 |
| Number of aircraft Damaged | 16 |
| Number of people Wounded in Action | 3 |
Military | Technical Sergeant | Aerial Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
18 November 1942 in 'Fury' B-17 #41-2499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, A/C collided with #41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed at RAF Turweston and was salvaged.
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x combat missions. ETD.
Awards: DSC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medals.
Post war: Remained in USAF, serving in Korean conflict.
Military | Major | Cameraman, Gunner, Actor | 303rd Bomb Group
Clark Gable flew at least 5 missions as Captain filming 50,000 ft of gunnery combat during 1943. He received the Air Medal for his service. 1 mission was flown with the 303rd BG. The rest were with the 351st BG in different aircraft. The film was named...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Bombardier | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Killed in Action (KIA) 19 May 1943 in B-17 #41-24483 'Spirit of Alcohol'. He went to Bassingbourn from MacDill Field about November/December 1942. He was on his 17th mission. The pilot (Lt. Baxley) told his parents in a letter that they were...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 19 May 1943 in B-17 #41-24483 'Spirit of Alcohol'. Killed in Action (KIA), (MIA)body never found.
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Lt. Woodworth enlisted in the Army Air Corps in January 1942, and completed bombardier training 4 July 1942 at Victorville, California. Assigned to the 305th Bomb Group, he was with the group as they completed training at Muroc, California, then...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-O] New Castle 6/10/42; Molesworth 21/11/42. Flown by Captain William R. Calhoun on the 4 May 1943 mission to the Ford and General Motors works, Antwerp, Belgium, with Clark Gable on board for his first mission (slightly damaged...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-G] Presque Is 27/11/42; Molesworth 13/12/42; Returned to the USA 2/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Arledge 22/11/44. IZA VAILABLE.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 17/9/42; West Palm Beach 17/1/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-V] Molesworth 15/2/43; took off from RAF Colerne, NI on training mission and involved in landing accident at RAF Filton, 17/10/43 with Dave Shelhamer, Flight engineer/top turret...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 6/10/42; New Castle 19/10/42; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-U] Molesworth 1/2/43; battle damaged Bremen 28/11/43 with Harry Bolsover, Co-pilot: Chas Rice, Navigator: Byron Clark, Bombardier: Chas McLain, Flight engineer/top turret gunner:...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 14/10/42; Salina 31/1/43; Morrison 4/3/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-Z] Molesworth 8/4/43; 25m Missing in Action Anklam 9/10/43 with Bernard Clifford, Co-pilot: Chas Jahn, Navigator: Chas Stata, Bombardier: Bob Bruce, Flight engineer/top...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 2/11/42; Saline 15/12/42; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-J] Molesworth 1/2/43; landing accident with Bob O’Connor 31/5/43; battle damaged over Oschersleben 11/1/44 with John Henderson, Co-pilot: Walter Ames, Navigator: Warren Wiggins,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 16/12/42; West Palm Beach 9/1/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GH-Q] Molesworth 7/2/43; severe battle damaged Bernberg 20/2/44 with Bob Hullar, Co-pilot: Capt Dick Dubell, Navigator: Elmer Brown, Bombardier: Jim McCormick, Flight engineer/top...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 30/11/42; Salina 20/1/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-L] Molesworth 26/3/43; Missing in Action Wangerooge Is 25/6/43 with Joe Palmer, Co-pilot: Bob Sheldon, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Elmer Duffy, Radio Operator: Edmund Gullage,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 29/11/42; Salina 25/1/43.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/42;
...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 31 December 2014 19:45:20 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 31-Dec-2014. Added # effective to description, same source as previous. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 31 December 2014 19:42:53 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 31-Dec-2014. Description and note based on "The Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:43:17 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'. |
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