42-39823 Iron Ass

media-53787.png UPL 53787 The crew of "Iron Ass" 42-39823 – 351st BG, 510th BS

From left to right : Robert Wilcox, Harold Freeman, Marvin Bender, William Grupp.
Kneeling : Lawrence Anderson, Francis Rollins, Robert Plumkett (replaced by Levi Collins for 31st December mission,
Francis Anderson, Harold Long and Veikko Koski.

https://earlgator.tripod.com/Photos/crewphoto.jpg

Object Number - UPL 53787 - The crew of "Iron Ass" 42-39823 – 351st BG, 510th BS From left to right : Robert Wilcox, Harold Freeman, Marvin...

Delivered Long Beach 11/9/43; Gr Island 10/10/43; Scott 30/10/43; Assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 4/11/43; transferred 510BS/351BG [TU-O] Polebrook 18/11/43; Missing in Action 8m Bordeaux 31/12/43 with Pilot Marvin H. Bender; Co-pilot: William J. Grupp; Radio Operator: Francis W. Rollins; Ball turret gunner: Levi H. Collins; Left Waist gunner: Harold F. Long; Right Waist gunner: Veikko J. Koski; Tail gunner: Lawrence R. Anderson (all 7 made Prisoners of War). The Navigator, Harold O. Freeman, the Bombardier, Robert B. Wilcox and the Flight engineer/top turret gunner, Francis E. Anderson all evaded capture. Flak, crashed in the sea, off the coast of Royan, France. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 1983.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

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

People

Francis Earl Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14084440
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Lawrence R Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Marvin H Bender

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-801590
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Levi Hill Collins

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38214489
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Harold Owen Freeman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39079236 / O-685580
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

off the coast of Royan, France 31 December 1943 Hit by Flak after bombs away. Crew bailed out over land. A/C crashed in the sea.

Revisions

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

Several corrections to Basic Details.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to the 8th AF.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” for clarity.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 1983

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1983 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-39823: Gallery (3 items)

Object number: UPL 19286 - Robert Bowles Wilcox – 17 September 1943 (Wilcox...

Object number: UPL 19287 - “Peck” Wilcox with “Papa and Mama”, Edouard and...

Object number: UPL 53787 - The crew of "Iron Ass" 42-39823 – 351st BG, 510th...