43-38619

Three ladies with the tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-A, serial number 43-38619) of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'C/L Ghent 303BG- SAL 14/2/45.' media-378905.jpg FRE 1037 Three women, wrapped up in coats, gloves and scarves against the cold, stand next to the tail of B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-A, serial number 43-38619) of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. It is possible that they are at the site of the forced landing of the B-17, near Ghent, Belgium, on or after 14 February 1945.

Handwritten caption on reverse: 'C/L Ghent 303BG- SAL 14/2/45.' Roger Freeman Collection

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/12624

Object Number - FRE 1037 - Three women, wrapped up in coats, gloves and scarves against the cold, stand next to the tail of B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-A, serial number 43-38619)...

Delivered Cheyenne 25/8/44; Patterson 10/9/44; Hunter 29/9/44; Dow Fd 9/10/44; Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-L] Snetterton 14/10/44; transferred 359BS/303BG [BN-A] Molesworth 15/10/44; battle damaged Dresden 14/2/45 with pilot Harvey Towne; force landed continent; Salvaged 13/3/45.



First mission of the 1Lt Towne crew, 303rd Bomb Group's mission 314, on 14 February 1945 to Dresden, Germany --

Made an emergency landing on the European Continent with no causalities. The B-17G 43-38619 (No name) (359BS) BN-A was on its 22nd dispatched combat mission and was salvaged on 13 March 1945 and left at the European landing airfield.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Arthur Dritz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35053888
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Airplane Mechanic

Thomas Fiore

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 42064385
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner

Galt L Mcclurg

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 774706
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Joseph A Miller

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0700?12
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Tilsen and Crew, Biggs Field

Isaac H Proctor

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14177065
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner

Places

Missions

8AF 830

  • Date: 14 February 1945
  • Official Description:

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Force landed

Ghent, Belgium 14 February 1945

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Dresden, Germany 14 February 1945

Other

Salvaged

13 March 1945

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

http://www.303rdbg.com/359towne.html
http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/314.pdf

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

43-38619: Gallery (2 items)

Three ladies with the tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-A, serial number 43-38619) of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'C/L Ghent 303BG- SAL 14/2/45.'

Object number: FRE 1037 - Three women, wrapped up in coats, gloves and...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-38619) of the 303rd Bomb Group that has crash-landed near Ghent, Belgium. Handwritten caption on reverse: '338619. A 303BG 6 miles S of Ghent, Belgium. SAL 14/2/45 - lost 9/2/45?'

Object number: FRE 4269 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-38619) of...