41-24544 Pennsylvania Polka
(Image of starboard side reoriented.)
Reoriented starboard image.
P.Marchese Feb 01, 2022
Object Number - UPL 55439 - Early B-17F-BO alleged to 91st BG as 41-24544 (unconfirmed). (Image of starboard side reoriented.)
B-17F 41-24544 "Pennsylvania Polka" was assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-O] Bangor 10-Sep-42; Bassingbourn 26-Oct-42; Shot down 4-Feb-43 by fighters 12 miles NW of the tip of Terschelling Island, Holland while on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. The marshalling yards were obscured by clouds and the port area of Emden, Germany was attacked as a target of last resort. 10KIA MACRS 3557 & 4635. Flew 7+ missions
P 1Lt Alan L. Bobrow (KIA) CP 1Lt John J. Sanders (KIA)
N 1Lt Everett L Clinard, Jr. (KIA); B 1Lt Norman L. Andrews (KIA)
E/TTG TSgt Paul L. Bass (KIA); RO TSgt Cyril E. Curb (KIA)
BTG TSgt Bill J. Wheeler (KIA); WG Charles E. Blackburn (KIA)
WG SSgt Lewis J. Fredericks (KIA); TG Sgt Edwin R. Campbell (KIA)
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-727071
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14031786
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15071592
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13028912 / O-789365
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39084294
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 4 February 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
Terschelling, Netherlands | 4 February 1943 | Attacked by German ME110s and JU88s and crashed into the North Sea 12 miles northwest of the tip of Terschelling Island, Holland. |
Revisions
Comments added and corrected to match image.
P. Marchese. Feb 02, 2022
Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2015. Added NOTE on COMBINATION data from DUPLICATE entry by Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2105. Added target information on Emden to description based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2014. Added Block Number and nickname per "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" Roger A. Freeman with Davis Osborne; added note to FTR event and edited description based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; Added Rank, Crew Position, full proper name and disposition per MACRs 3557 & 4635; formatted crew display.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3557 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
