42-30251 Piccadilly Queen

Bomber crews of the 385th Bomb Group return to base following a mission, they walk past a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30251) nicknamed "Piccadilly Queen". Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291750.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIR FORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive against continues against enemy continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great format media-380099.jpg FRE 1344 Bomber crews of the 385th Bomb Group return to base following a mission, they walk past a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30251) nicknamed "Piccadilly Queen". Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291750.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIR FORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive against continues against enemy continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of the bombers and fighters of the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Some of the Flying Fortress crews after their return to an operational station in Britain from the great raid on the Ruhr. No 6th Nov 1943. PN.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1344 - Bomber crews of the 385th Bomb Group return to base following a mission, they walk past a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30251) nicknamed...

Delivered Cheyenne 6/5/43; Denver 8/5/43; Gt Falls 13/5/43; Kearney 29/5/43; Dow Fd 13/6/43; Assigned 549BS/385BG [XA-T] Gt Ashfield 14/6/43; damaged in base explosion 3/9/43; Missing in Action Frankfurt 29/1/44 with Ray Notestein, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gla Owen, Ball turret gunner: John Huffman, Waist gunner: Cliff Owen, Waist gunner: John Moriarty, Tail gunner: Carl Huwe (6 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Earl Follensbee, Navigator: Eldon Rohs, Bombardier: Chas Markwell, Radio Operator: Art Karnowski (4 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Kaiserlautern, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2267. PICCADILLY QUEEN.



Was shot down by Htm Raimund Koch of 8./JG 3 Koch lost his life later that year, on 2nd November 1944 near the Esperstedt air base in Thuringia due to an error made by one of his comrades who rammed him at 400 m altitude. He had been credited with 47 shoot-downs and had been proposed for the award of the Knights Cross.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Operations Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 549th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 29 January 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Changed spelling of surname from 'Rohe' to 'Rohs'. Sources:
MACR 2267 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

http://www.ww2pow.info/index.php?page=directory&rec=109026

NARA enlistment record: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf…

Date
Contributorhermanns
Changes
Sources

385th BG website

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2267 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-30251: Gallery (3 items)