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B-17F 42-5051

Aircraft Details

Serial Number: 42-5051
Name: BARREL HOUSE BESSIE
Manufacturer: Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-30-BO, Camouflage
Squadron: 544th Bombardment Squadron (H)
Squadron ID Code: 544th‑SU*M
Ground Crew Chief: Hoggatt, John R
Start Date: 26 July 1943. New Replacement AC.
Missions: This aircraft was credited with 12 combat missions with the 384th.
End Date: 26 November 1943. Failed to return from combat operations.
Related Documents:Missing Air Crew Report # 1579 (30.215 MB)
'Valor: The Saga of Barrel House Bessie' in Air Force Magazine
Photo Album: Aircraft 42-5051 Photo Album
(more...)

B-17F Aircraft 42-5051 Was Assigned To 23 Missions Manned by 384th BG Personnel,
Earning Combat Credit For 12 Of Them
Number Date Target Results Mission/Sortie Information
1229 July 1943Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back almost immediately because of leak in oxygen system.
Sortie Report
1330 July 1943Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
1515 August 1943Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
1616 August 1943Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1717 August 1943Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
--19 August 1943Gilze-Rijn, Holland, RECALLEDMission RecalledComposite Sq
Sortie Report
--24 August 1943Diversion
(Non-Combat)
Returned To Base Sortie Report
1827 August 1943Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
--2 September 1943Vannes, France, RECALLEDMission Recalled Sortie Report
239 September 1943Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back due to a blown spark plug.
Sortie Report
--21 September 1943Riems, France, RECALLEDMission RecalledAir Sea Rescue Ship
Sortie Report
2523 September 1943Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
--26 September 1943Nantes, France, RECALLEDMission Recalled Sortie Report
2627 September 1943Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
272 October 1943Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
284 October 1943Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Completed MissionLanded away at Boxted due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
3320 October 1943Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
343 November 1943Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
355 November 1943Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
--11 November 1943Wesel, Germany, RECALLEDMission Recalled Sortie Report
--13 November 1943Bremen, Germany, RECALLEDMission Recalled Sortie Report
3616 November 1943Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway
Completed Mission Sortie Report
3726 November 1943Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany
Failed To Return: DitchedDamaged by flak, ditched in the North Sea near the English coast, with most of the crew rescued; MACR 1579; T/Sgt. Maurice Henry awarded posthumous Distinguished Service Cross, Owens p.195; Maj. William Gilmore awarded Silver Star, Owens p. 198.
Sortie Report