Richard C Fortunak

Military
Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak of the 303rd Bomb Group, checks his machine gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Staff Sgt. Richard C. Fortunak, 1260 West 17th Avenue, Gary, Ind., Waist Gunner in a Fortress, which he and his crew mates have named "Hoosier Kid", adjusts gun in his turret. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Cens media-407577.jpg FRE 4197 Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak of the 303rd Bomb Group, checks his machine gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Staff Sgt. Richard C. Fortunak, 1260 West 17th Avenue, Gary, Ind., Waist Gunner in a Fortress, which he and his crew mates have named "Hoosier Kid", adjusts gun in his turret. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4197 - Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak of the 303rd Bomb Group, checks his machine gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943....

1-Jul-42 Assigned as a Waist Gunner on B-17F #41-24581 [BN-O],"The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico and arrived aboard that aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 21-Oct-42.



On 20-Dec-42 he bailed out of B-17F #41-24581 'The 8 Ball' over England while serving as Left Waist Gunner upon return of the aircraft from a mission to bomb the German air depot Romilly-sur-Seine, France. The Pilot and Co-Pilot crash-landed at Bovingdon. Uninjured - RTD.



3-Jan-43 Assigned as the Left Waist Gunner on B-17F #41-24635 "The '8' Ball II" Mission participation (See Biography events UNDER CONSTRUCTION).

Connections

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

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

Corporal Murray S. Pearl, of the 303rd Bomb Group, with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24565) nicknamed "Idaho Potato Peeler". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943. [stamp] and ‘245656.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Cpl. Murray S. Pearl, serving with the U.S.A.A.F in a bomber squadron, appreciates the heavy fur-lined jerkin issued to him, for, in private life, he was a fur manufacturer at 222 West 28th Stre

41-24565

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Ramblin' Wreck : Idaho Potato Peeler
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak of the 303rd Bomb Group, checks his machine gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Staff Sgt. Richard C. Fortunak, 1260 West 17th Avenue, Gary, Ind., Waist Gunner in a Fortress, which he and his crew mates have named "Hoosier Kid", adjusts gun in his turret. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Cens

41-24581

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The 8 Ball
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

41-24635

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The 8 Ball MK II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA 1 July 1942 Assigned as a Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball" at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo New Mexico.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 21 October 1942 Arrived at Molesworth, UK as a Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS.

Other

Mission #1, SSGT Richard C. Fortunak, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, SSGT Richard C. Fortunak, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, SSGT Richard C. Fortunak, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 22 November 1942 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, SSGT Richard C. Fortunak, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 23 November 1942 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, SSGT Richard C. Fortunak, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball" 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, SSGT Richard C. Fortunak, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Rouen, France 12 December 1942 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peelers", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #7, SSGT Richard C. Fortunak, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS - BO/RTD

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball" 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. The aircraft sustained battle damage but the pilot MAY Romig managedd to fly the aircraft back to England. SSGT Fortunak was ordered to bale out over the English countryside. P MAJ Romig and CP CPT Calhoun stayed with the aircraft and made a crashlandidng at USAAF Station Bovington. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair but MAJ Romig and CPT Calhoun wer not injured and returned to Molesworth the next day.

Other

Mission #8, SSGT Richard C. Fortunak, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 3 January 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball II" 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Capitalized the words "Waist Gunner" in the "Role/job" field.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, GAry Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, GAry Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, GAry Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Willaim R. Calhoun crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-calhoun.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Asssigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Willaim R. Calhoun crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-calhoun.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added initial assignment and arrival in UK and 3-Jan-43 assignment to Summary Biography; made connections to 41-24565 and all missions through 3-Jan-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Dec-2104. Edited biography for clarity; made connections for Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol.1 by Bishop and Hey p. 55 / http://303rdbg.com/rost-hij.html#H

Richard C Fortunak: Gallery (2 items)

Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak of the 303rd Bomb Group, checks his machine gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Staff Sgt. Richard C. Fortunak, 1260 West 17th Avenue, Gary, Ind., Waist Gunner in a Fortress, which he and his crew mates have named "Hoosier Kid", adjusts gun in his turret. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Cens

Object number: FRE 4197 - Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak of the 303rd...

Object number: UPL 19299 - The crew of 41-24635 on return from the 4 May 1943...