42-102494

Delivered Cheyenne 8/3/44; Kearney 5/4/44; Dow Fd 19/4/44; Assigned 708BS/447BG [CQ- ] Rattlesden 20/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 24/5/44 with Ralph Simon, Co-pilot: Ed Tully, Navigator: Joe Teixeira, Bombardier: Ralph Pittman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Urdia, Radio Operator: Herman Grimm, Ball turret gunner: Clyde Chastain, Waist gunner: Kerwin Tozier, Waist gunner: Bill Nicholas, Tail gunner: Gene Minton (10 Killed in Action); hit by prop wash from another B-17, crashed North Sea, off St Peter, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 5249.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.

447th Bomb Group

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

People

Clyde G Chastain

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14184716
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Herman J Grimm

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20610365
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Gene W Minton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20803788
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

William C Nicholas

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39199260
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Ralph Pittman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-661024
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW)

North Sea 24 May 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 5249 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database