2024 MEMBERSHIP
 JOIN OR RENEW NOW
 MEMBER APPLICATION FORM

B-17G 42-97142

Aircraft Details

Serial Number: 42-97142
Name: THOR, GOD OF THUNDER
Other names associated with this aircraft are 'THUNDER' (photo), with 'DANIEL WEBSTER', and 'LITTLE BILL' mentioned in existing website content.
Manufacturer: Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-40-BO, Natural Metal Finish
Squadron: 546th Bombardment Squadron (H)
Squadron ID Code: 546th‑BK*N
Ground Crew Chief: Francis, Percy Tom
Start Date: 12 March 1944. Transferred: Received from the 457th BG..
Missions: This aircraft was credited with 65 combat missions with the 384th.
End Date: 12 September 1944. Failed to return from combat operations.
Related Documents:Missing Air Crew Report # 8901 (26.004 MB)
Photo Album: Aircraft 42-97142 Photo Album
(more...)

B-17G Aircraft 42-97142 Was Assigned To 80 Missions Manned by 384th BG Personnel,
Earning Combat Credit For 65 Of Them
Number Date Target Results Mission/Sortie Information
7516 March 1944Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
7618 March 1944Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
7719 March 1944Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
7820 March 1944Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Mission RecalledLow Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
7922 March 1944Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron, composite high group.
Sortie Report
8023 March 1944Target: Airdrome and Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Gütersloh, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
8124 March 1944Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
8226 March 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
8327 March 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France
Completed Mission41 Squadron.
Sortie Report
8428 March 1944Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
8529 March 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Completed MissionLanded away at Harrington, due to weather.
Sortie Report
--31 March 1944Ludwigshaven, Germany, RECALLEDMission Recalled Sortie Report
869 April 1944Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back at 1130 hrs; could not locate formation due to bad weather.
Sortie Report
8811 April 1944Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
--12 April 1944Schweinfurt, Germany, RECALLEDMission Recalled Sortie Report
8913 April 1944Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
9018 April 1944Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
9119 April 1944Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed Sortie Report
9220 April 1944Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Completed MissionA Wing, High group.
Sortie Report
--21 April 1944Leuna, Germany, RECALLEDMission Recalled Sortie Report
9322 April 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
9424 April 1944Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
991 May 1944Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France
Flight CompletedWeather ship.
Sortie Report
1004 May 1944Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1017 May 1944Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1028 May 1944Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed MissionGround Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97204. High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
1049 May 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Thionville, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
--10 May 1944Ehrang, Germany, RECALLEDMission RecalledHigh Grp A
Sortie Report
10511 May 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany
Completed Mission41B Group.
Sortie Report
10612 May 1944Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
10713 May 1944Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland
Completed MissionHigh Squadron, high composite group, 41st CBW.
Sortie Report
10919 May 1944Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed MissionLow Group.
Sortie Report
11728 May 1944Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
11929 May 1944Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1243 June 1944Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France
Completed MissionHigh Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
1254 June 1944Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1265 June 1944Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France
Completed MissionHigh Group Deputy.
Sortie Report
1286 June 1944Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France
Completed MissionJ Squadron.
Sortie Report
1307 June 1944Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1318 June 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Completed Mission41D Group. Bombed Primary Target.
Sortie Report
13210 June 1944Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France
Spare, Completed Mission41A Group, Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report
13312 June 1944Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Completed MissionFlying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation.
Sortie Report
13716 June 1944Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Completed MissionHigh Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
14120 June 1944Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany
Completed MissionLow Group, #3 position. Led group after designated Group Lead (Stallings/June) aborted, and Deputy Lead (Thoma) was killed on the bomb run.
Sortie Report
14625 June 1944Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
14828 June 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France
Completed MissionHigh group, 41st A wing. Landed away at Rattlesden, AAF Station 126, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report
14930 June 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1504 July 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1516 July 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France
Completed MissionHigh group.
Sortie Report
1537 July 1944Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron deputy, high group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report
1548 July 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France
Spare, Completed MissionHigh group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
15511 July 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back because of an oxygen system problem.
Sortie Report
15917 July 1944Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France
Completed MissionLow group.
Sortie Report
16018 July 1944Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany
Completed Mission41B Group.
Sortie Report
16119 July 1944Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
16220 July 1944Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back with a sick crew member. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
16321 July 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
16424 July 1944Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France
Completed MissionLow group.
Sortie Report
16628 July 1944Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused 
16729 July 1944Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Turned back over field because of low oil pressure.
Sortie Report
16831 July 1944Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Flying Spare, Returned As BriefedHigh Group.
Sortie Report
1691 August 1944Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France
Completed MissionLow Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
1703 August 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France
Completed MissionH Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
1714 August 1944Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany
Completed MissionLead Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
17711 August 1944Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France
Completed MissionLow Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report
17812 August 1944Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France
Spare, Completed MissionLow group flying spare; joined formation. Cline apparently experienced a problem with this aircraft, and mission records indicate a change to Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑31222. Eventually, however, he flew the mission in his originally assigned ship.
Sortie Report
17913 August 1944Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France
Completed MissionHigh section deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
18014 August 1944Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
18116 August 1944Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany
Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑102430.
Sortie Report
18218 August 1944Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.High group. Turned back because of instrument failures.
Sortie Report
18324 August 1944Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
18425 August 1944Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany
Completed MissionLow Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
18526 August 1944Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Completed MissionHigh section lead, low group.
Sortie Report
--1 September 1944Ludwigshaven, Germany, RECALLEDMission Recalled Sortie Report
1873 September 1944Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Completed MissionHot camera ship, high Squadron.
Sortie Report
1898 September 1944Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1909 September 1944Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
19110 September 1944Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
19211 September 1944Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany
Spare, Completed Mission41A Group, 41B Group Flying Spare. Filled in position in 41A Group.
Sortie Report
19312 September 1944Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Brüx, Czechoslovakia
Failed To ReturnAt 1105 near Wittenburg, aircraft was hit by ME-109s on first attack in #3 engine; could not climb back to formation and continuously drifted behind until lost sight of; right wing fell off at 1109 and aircraft went down on fire in a steep glide; 3 chutes; crashed in Grünfelde, immediately west of Kyritz, Germany; MACR 8901
Sortie Report