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A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B-17 Flying Fortress . Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Back at their home base in the 'plane which went to pick them up, the five survivors of the Flying Fortress "Little Twink" talk over their experience. They are (left to right): Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adamiak, pilot, of 297 Elm Street, Holyoke, Mass.; Sgt. Cleo Davis, radio-gunner, of 463 Laurel Street, Chillicothe, Ohio; Lt. Wm. Kelder, Bombardier, of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Cap[t.] L.B. Roper, Squadron Operations Officer, of Buller, Texas (who flew them home); and Lt. Wm. Crockett, Jr., co-pilot, of Buna, Texas. WOR 263574/5. 1-1-44-Y.' Censor no: 298323. On reverse: Associated Press and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
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A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Back at their home base in the 'plane which went to pick them up, the five survivors of the Flying Fortress "Little Twink" talk over their experience. They are (left to right): Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adamiak, pilot, of 297 Elm Street, Holyoke, Mass.; Sgt. Cleo Davis, radio-gunner, of 463 Laurel Street, Chillicothe, Ohio; Lt. Wm. Kelder, Bombardie[r], of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Cap[t.] L.B. Roper, Squadron Operations Officer, of Buller, Texas (who flew them home); and Lt. Wm. Crockett, Jr., co-pilot, of Buna, Texas. WOR 263574/5. 1-1-44-Y.' Censor no: 298324. On reverse: Associated Press and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
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Five airmen of the 351st Bomb Group who survived a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Little Twink" return to base. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The five survivors of the crashed Fortress, "Little Twink" arrive back at their home base. They are (left to right): Lt. Wm. Kelder, Bombardier, of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adamiak, pilot, of 297 Elm Street, Holyoke, Mass.; Lt. Wm. Crockett, Jr., co-pilot, of Buna, Texas; and Sgt. Cleo Davis, radio-gunner, of 463 Laurel Street, Chillicothe, Ohio. WOR 263572/3. 1-1-44-Y.' Censor no: 298321. On reverse: Associated Press and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
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Five airmen of the 351st Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The five survivors of the crashed Fortress, "Little Twink" arrive back at their home base. They are (left to right): Lt. Wm. Kelder, Bombardier, of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adamiak, pilot, of 297 Elm Street, Holyoke, Mass.; Lt. Wm. Crockett, Jr., co-pilot, of Buna, Texas; and Sgt. Cleo Davis, radio-gunner, of 463 Laurel Street, Chillicothe, Ohio. WOR 263572/3. 1-1-44-Y.' Censor no: 298321. On reverse: Associated Press and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
30 December 1943 on mission to IGF factory at Ludwigshaven. In B17#42-39780 'Little Twink'
On bomb run, ac hit by flak and lost #3 engine. Hit by flak again over Frankfurt and unable to keep in formation, RAF escorted a/c to Hawkinge where a/c crash landed. Unfortunately 7 crew members baled out but parachutes failed to open. 5 KOF 5 RTD
Service
Units served with
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Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Long Beach 29/8/43; Scott 22/10/43; Assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 26/10/43; transferred 510BS/351BG [TU-S] Polebrook 18/11/43; 4m Ludwigshaven 30/12/43 with Joe Adamiak, Co-pilot: W. Crockett, Bombardier: W.Kelder,ro-C. Davis,Tail gunner:...