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

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • 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

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.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log