42-31614 Minnie the Mermaid

A B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-L, serial number 42-31614) nicknamed "Minnie the Mermaid" of the 381st Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: '65913 AC - A Boeing B-17 " Flying Fortress" of the 381st Bomb Group, en route to bomb enemy installations in Europe. US AIR FORCE PHOTO 1361st Photographic Squadron Aerospace Audio- Visual Service (MAC).' media-380070.jpg FRE 1273 A B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-L, serial number 42-31614) nicknamed "Minnie the Mermaid" of the 381st Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: '65913 AC - A Boeing B-17 " Flying Fortress" of the 381st Bomb Group, en route to bomb enemy installations in Europe. US AIR FORCE PHOTO 1361st Photographic Squadron Aerospace Audio- Visual Service (MAC).' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1273 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-L, serial number 42-31614) nicknamed "Minnie the Mermaid" of the 381st Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: '65913 AC -...

Delivered Cheyenne 27/11/43; Seattle 29/11/43; Portland 2/12/43; Felts Fd 4/12/43; Cheyenne 6/12/43; Kearney 16/12/43; Cleveland 20/12/43; Syracuse 21/12/43; Presque Is 3/1/44; Assigned 533BS/381BG [VP-L] Ridgewell 21/1/44; battle damaged over Misburg, Ger; 29/11/44 with Joe Nelson, Co-pilot: Ken Schmalz, Navigator: Jerry Pasek, Bombardier: Tom Schnidt, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Larry Levington, Radio Operator: George Comery, Ball turret gunner: Francis Bergermeister, Waist gunner: Harlan Van Over,Tail gunner: Joe Walsh (9 Returned to Duty); force landed Meijel, 20 miles E of Eindhoven, Hol. the crew being quickly evacuated by British ground troops; Salvaged 27/1/45. MINNIE THE MERMAID.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

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

People

Francis X Bergmeister

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33790028
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

George F Comery

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12083541
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Lawrence Levington

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 490th Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron 849th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32230968
  • Role/Job: Airplane Maintenance Technician / Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer

Jerry Pasek

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2066191
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Kenneth R Schmalz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-822823
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Revisions

Date
Contributorvppelt68
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Master Log

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-31614: Gallery (8 items)

A B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-L, serial number 42-31614) nicknamed "Minnie the Mermaid" of the 381st Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: '65913 AC - A Boeing B-17 " Flying Fortress" of the 381st Bomb Group, en route to bomb enemy installations in Europe. US AIR FORCE PHOTO 1361st Photographic Squadron Aerospace Audio- Visual Service (MAC).'

Object number: FRE 1273 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-L, serial number 42...

B-17 Flying Fortresses, (serial number 42-31614), (VP-P, serial number 42-32025) nicknamed "Dreambaby", and (VP-W) of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: '381. Ian MacTaggart. [illegible] Mermaid.'

Object number: FRE 4852 - B-17 Flying Fortresses, (serial number 42-31614),...

B-17 Flying Fortresses, (serial number 42-31614), (VP-P, serial number 42-32025) nicknamed "Dreambaby", and (VP-W) of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission.

Object number: FRE 6251 - B-17 Flying Fortresses, 42-31614 (VP-L), 42-32025...

Object number: UPL 25648 - 42-31614 Minnie the Mermaid

Object number: UPL 39410 - Minnie the Mermaid / 1 in Meijel (NL) From...

Object number: UPL 39411 - Minnie the Mermaid / 2 in Meijel (NL) From...

Object number: UPL 39412 - Minnie the Mermaid / 3 in Meijel (NL) From...

Object number: UPL 39413 - Minnie the Mermaid / 4 in Meijel (NL) From...