41-9045 Stinky

 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group line up for take off, a B-17 nicknamed "Stinky" leads the lineup. A censor has obscured a structure in the background. Passed as censored 17 Oct 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'New "Fortress" Makes History In The Air. Oct. 1942. The most striking development of the war in the air is undoubtedly the sensational success of the American "Boeing" Flying Fortresses in the daylight bombing of enemy-occupied territory. In the most recent operation 105 German craf media-408299.jpg FRE 3701 B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group line up for take off, a B-17 nicknamed "Stinky" leads the lineup. A censor has obscured a structure in the background. Passed as censored 17 Oct 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'New "Fortress" Makes History In The Air. Oct. 1942. The most striking development of the war in the air is undoubtedly the sensational success of the American "Boeing" Flying Fortresses in the daylight bombing of enemy-occupied territory. In the most recent operation 105 German craft were destroyed, probably destroyed or damaged, for the loss of four bombers, thanks to their speed, high altitude and formidable armament, modifications to this fine craft having been made as the result of experience gained in Britain since the first types were flown by the RAF in actual operations. The picture was taken at an American Station in England when preparations were being made for a big daylight raid on the Nazis, and shows – A Squadron of the "new" Fortresses coming on to the runway for the take-off to "somewhere on the Continent where there are "Nazis"".' Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 3701 - B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group line up for take off, a B-17 nicknamed "Stinky" leads the lineup. A censor has obscured a structure in...

Assigned 414BS/97BG Polebrook 3/42; transferred 92BG Bovingdon 24/8/42; crash landed Agricultural College, Athenry, Ireland, near Galway Bay, 15/1/43 ex N/Africa after taking part in 1st Prov Grp of Gen Brereton in Eritrea (as No 8.). En route Portreath, Cornwall with

Capt Thomas M HULINGS O-437980

2/Lt J. Kemp MCLAUGHLIN O-789398

2/Lt Clyde B. COLLINS

Sgt Lorin E BLANCHARD Jr. 16048807

Sgt Johnnie J TUCKER 14068147

Sgt John W TIPPEN 14033646

Sgt Maurice L. HARRIS 15084594

T/Sgt Edward D. PARRISH 06151908

T/Sgt Laurence E. DENNIS 36048962

Sgt Reginald Charles BOLLAND 625196 (Royal Air Force)

Lt/Gen Jacob Loucks DEVERS O-2599

Maj/Gen Edward Hale BROOKS O-6657

Brig/Gen Gladeon Marcus BARNES O-2970

Brig/Gen Williston Birkhimer PALMER O-12246

Col William Thaddeus SEXTON O-15777

Maj Earle Lynn HORMELL O-22368

(18 Returned to Duty). Aircraft was dismantled and returned to USAAF base at Langford Lodge. Salvaged. STINKY. Although sometimes listed as having the name Tennessee Belle there is no evidence to support this aircraft ever having being given this name. [ex- Joe Baugher: The forced landing, due to faulty navigation, could have been very embarrassing as it was carrying Lt Gen Jacob Devers (anon) and his staff on a fact finding tour of the ETO. The Irish should have, by international law interned them, but instead they were treated to an impromptu banquet and taken to the Northern Ireland border!]



Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-371840
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Squadron CO / Base CO / Wing CO / NASAF Ops Ofcr / 2nd AAF C-of-S
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39167239
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-437980
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot; Squadron Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15070035 / O-789398
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Assigned

Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead, UK 24 August 1942 92nd BG

Crashed

Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland 15 January 1943 Crash landed at the Agricultural College

Assigned

Polebrook, Peterborough PE8, UK 97th BG

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added some punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
Contributordp_burke
Changes
Sources

Updated from my research at http://www.ww2irishaviation.com/stinky.htm

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorRayWells
Changes
Sources

Correction of name on Biography.

Date
ContributorStinky45
Changes
Sources

This plane is often quoted as aka Tennessee Belle...having researched this particular plane over a period of 12 years, culminating in the publishing of Eagles Over Ireland I can confirm that the plane was never named Tennessee Belle. I contacted "Kid Rock" ...Jack Gaffney in the USA he was the original nose artist of B17E 41-9045 and he confirmed that this aircraft was his first to paint and name. He confirmed it as being 'STINKY' when he painted it on the ground in the USA. I have photos of the plane getting an engine changed/maintained at Meeks Field Iceland on its way over to Polebrook to join the 97th. The plane was transferred to Nth Africa when several B17Es were swapped out to the 92 BG. It was still called 'STINKY' at this time...evidence for this is found when Elliot Roosevelt receives his DFC at Gibraltar 'STINKY' on the apron in the same photo. I now move onto Ireland where on the 15th January 1943 the plane crash lands with a research party of Top Brass headed up by General Jacob Loucks Devers finds themselves on Neutral soil. The party were repatriated within 24 hours to Northern Ireland UK. Again all pictures show the plane with it's distinctive marking and name 'STINKY'...the plane was at the crash site for weeks. Finally a crew and lorries arrived with poor tooling and literally used sledge hammers and other crude methods to dismantle the plane into manageable scrap pieces and removed same to Langford Lodge in the North of Ireland, UK. So it appears for the whole of its serviceable life the plane was only known as 'STINKY'. The other name persists in other publications...Bishop...Freeman but no categorical evidence is available to support this notion. Please visit the website which contains the complete story of this plane's service along with all the details of the mission of General Devers and his party.
Website address (which is history ONLY) .... eagles-over-ireland.site50.net (No ...www prefix required)
I leave all other comments by other authors so that readers who follow can determine for themselves the facts that are supported by evidence presented. It maybe a minor point but accuracy in reporting and recording history is important.

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

B-17 Flying Fortress Story - Roger Freeman

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

41-9045: Gallery (12 items)