42-97518
Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/43; Kansas City 27/12/43; Orlando 1/1/44; 902 BU Orlando 2/6/44; Mat Spl Tonopah 23/6/44; Mat Com Wright Fd 28/6/44; Grenier 28/6/44; Prestwick, UK 30/6/44; Assigned 560BS/388BG Knettishall, fitted with TV camera and GB-4 glide bomb equipment (Batty*) 2/7/44; on non-op mission from Fersfield to North Witham 29/7/44 with Ken Snedeker, Co-pilot: John Baird, Navigator: Chas Trimble, pass-Major Henry Rand, pass-Sgt Bernard Kurs (4 Returned to Duty); upon returning only one u/c wheel was down but aircraft skidded across runway, crashing through a gas truck into 44-6096 which exploded killing two bystanders M/Sgt Clove Wells, Sgt Clarence Nietzke, plus Navigator: Chas Trimble (3 Killed in Service), two other ground crewmen Cpls Bill Brown and John Taney were OK.
* Batty project - 3 x B-17 fitted with bomb racks for 2,600lb GB-4 glide bombs and with remote controls and TV equipment to control their descent to target. Only 1 x B-17 so fitted was used operationally before the project was pulled.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radar Mechanic
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Private
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-?
- Highest Rank: Major
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Winfarthing
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lady Courageous
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Assigned |
Knettishall, Diss, Suffolk IP22, UK | 2 July 1944 | Assigned 560th BS, 388th BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Other Fitted out for Batty* Project |
Knettishall, Diss, Suffolk IP22, UK | 2 July 1944 - 16 July 1944 | Fitted with TV camera and GB-4 glide bomb equipment (Batty*) 2/7/44. |
Crashed |
Fersfield, Diss, Norfolk IP22, UK | 29 July 1944 | On non-operational mission from Fersfield to North Witham 29/7/44. Upon returning only one u/c wheel was down but aircraft skidded across runway, crashing through a gas truck into 44-6096 which exploded killing two bystanders plu Navigator. (4 x RTD, 3 x KOAS. |
Other Written Off DBR |
Fersfield, Diss, Norfolk IP22, UK | 30 July 1944 | Damaged Beyond Repair, Salvaged. |