42-31410 Berlin Bessie : I Dood It

media-45258.jpeg UPL 45258 B-17G-15-BO #42-31410 "Berlin Bessie" Code_ ET-G
95th BG - 336th BS
Flew 68 combat missions, including nine to Berlin 95th Bomb Group collection

Object Number - UPL 45258 - B-17G-15-BO #42-31410 "Berlin Bessie" Code_ ET-G 95th BG - 336th BS Flew 68 combat missions, including nine to Berlin

Delivered Cheyenne 31/10/43; Kearney 13/11/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-G] Horham 1/1/44; flak damage Berlin 6/10/44 with Lester Lennox, Co-pilot: Bob McCoy (2 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Bill Tate, Bombardier: Dick White, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Forest Wilmouth, Radio Operator: Cyril Cummings, Ball turret gunner: Chas O’Geen, Waist gunner: Jim Taylor, Tail gunner: Don Cairns (7 Prisoner of War); Missing Air Crew Report 9352; Salvaged battle damaged base and repaired; when parked was hit by 42-97992 15/4/45; 70m, Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 26/6/45; Love Fd 27/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 28/8/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 10/11/45. BERLIN BESSIE aka I DOOD IT.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-749187
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Air Force officer pinning award or ribbon on uniform of SSG Beeks
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20441207
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37727286
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36816132
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31013228
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Missions

  • Date: 6 October 1944
  • Date: 5 October 1944
  • Date: 3 October 1944
  • Date: 30 September 1944

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hap Hazard : Trouble Buggy
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 412th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Assigned

1 January 1943 95BG 336BS

Delivered

31 October 1943

Other

1st 95th BG Combat Mission

29 January 1944

Other

Damaged/Returned to Base

6 October 1944 Received severe flak damage over target. All crew except pilot and co-pilot bailed out and were captured. Lennox (pilot) and McCoy (Co-Pilot) were able to return the aircraft to base. It was repaired, but it did not return to combat. The assumption is that is was used for a base hack aircraft as it was returned to the US after the war.

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorBlessed Event
Changes
Sources

Matt Webster

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 9352 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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