42-31892 - Ill Be Around aka The Skillet

Note : The B-17G, 42-31892, was one of several B-17Gs in the 8th Air Force named, I'll Be Around, after the popular song in 1944, "I'll Be Around". WWII air crews often chose to name their airplanes with names already in use. 

Fate: Lost by mechanical fault (FTR). - Fire. 4 Jun 1944. 
The B-17G, 42-31892, named, I'll Be Around, also named, The Skillet, was delivered to Cheyenne, 31/12/43; Kearney 12/1/44; Assigned 570BS/390BG [DI-H] Framlingham 19/2/44. 

The aircraft suffered an oxygen fire while assembling for a mission to Boulogne, Germany. Lt. Andy Brown, the Command pilot remained on board in an attempt to land, but crashed at Easthorpe, near Colchester, and was KIA. The rest of crew bailed out successfully. 9 RTS - 1 KIA. 4/6/44. Aircraft was salvaged (RTS). 5/7/44. 

B-17G - 42-31892 - I'll be Around Crew : 
Lt. Andy Brown - Command Pilot (Killed in Action) 
Lt. Leroy Holmberg - Co-pilot 
George Benton - Navigator 
Ellis McClintick - Bombardier 
Jack Pelton - Radio Operator 
Bob Pinkus - Ball Turret Gunner 
Dick Autry - Waist Gunner 
Jim Gates - Waist Gunner 
Bob Baldi - Tail Gunner 
Bill Kick - Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner 
 

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15322063
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38133497
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer

Places

Missions

  • Date: 4 June 1944
  • Official Description:
  • Date: 2 June 1944
  • Official Description:

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: I'll Be Around
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ill Be Around

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

31 December 1943

Assigned

19 February 1944

Other

Crashed

4 June 1944 a/c suffered oxygen fire during assembly. Attempted crash landing at Easthorpe, Essex. All had bailed out except for pilot. The flight engineer was KIA.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added "aka" in the A/C "Nicknames" field as a Separator to aid readability.

Removed some Punctuation in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Name spacing added. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress - The Queen Of The Skies - Master Log. Dave Osborne.

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

B-17 Bomber - Flying Fortress - Queen Of The Skies. - Master Log - 42-31892 - I'll Be There. Dave Osborne

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

The B-17 Bomber - B-17 Fortress Master Log - Dave Osborne,

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log