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B-17G 42-102601

Aircraft Details

Serial Number: 42-102601
Name: BOLO BABE
Ed Gramc (RO on J A Gibson Crew) stated on 17 June 2017 that this is the aircraft his crew flew over in from the USA in early May 1944. Also, he was certain that the nose art included a depiction of a woman, but he did not recall the exact image. Photos of the aircraft show all angles EXCEPT the right side of the nose, but no nose art is evident.
Manufacturer: Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-55-BO, Natural Metal Finish
Squadron: 546th Bombardment Squadron (H)
Squadron ID Code: 546th‑BK*K
Ground Crew Chief: Pierce, Howard Bundy
Start Date: 24 May 1944. New Replacement AC.
Missions: This aircraft was credited with 50 combat missions with the 384th.
End Date: 9 September 1944. Failed to return from combat operations.
Related Documents:Beesley's 9 September 1944 Debrief (4.554 MB)
Photo Album: Aircraft 42-102601 Photo Album
(more...)

B-17G Aircraft 42-102601 Was Assigned To 58 Missions Manned by 384th BG Personnel,
Earning Combat Credit For 50 Of Them
Number Date Target Results Mission/Sortie Information
11627 May 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Completed MissionLead Group.
Sortie Report
11728 May 1944Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Completed MissionHigh Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
11929 May 1944Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Completed Mission Sortie Report
12030 May 1944Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Completed MissionLead Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Assumed this role after original Deputy aborted.
Sortie Report
1222 June 1944Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France
Completed MissionHigh Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
1243 June 1944Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France
Completed Mission 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, Low Squadron Lead.
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
13312 June 1944Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by 42‑102617, from Murchan in High Group.
Sortie Report
13413 June 1944Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Completed MissionLanded away at Polebrook, AAF Station 110, on return, due to bad weather.
Sortie Report
13514 June 1944Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Completed Mission41B Wing, Lead Group.
Sortie Report
13615 June 1944Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France
Completed MissionLow Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
13818 June 1944Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Completed Mission41B Group.
Sortie Report
13919 June 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Completed Mission41A Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
14019 June 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Spare, Completed Mission41B Group, Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report
14120 June 1944Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany
Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed Sortie Report
14221 June 1944Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Completed MissionLead Group.
Sortie Report
14322 June 1944Target: V-2 Storage & Launch Site
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France
Completed MissionLow Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
14524 June 1944Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
14625 June 1944Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France
Spare, Completed MissionFlying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
14727 June 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Storage Depot)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Saint-Martin-L'Hortier, France
Completed MissionLow group deputy, 41st B section.
Sortie Report
14930 June 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France
Completed MissionLow Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
1504 July 1944Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
1537 July 1944Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Completed MissionHigh group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report
15612 July 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
15713 July 1944Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Completed Mission41B Group.
Sortie Report
15917 July 1944Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France
Completed MissionHigh section deputy, lead 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
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Low Squadron deputy, high group. Turned back due to runaway prop on #2 engine.
Sortie Report
16220 July 1944Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Completed Mission 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 MissionHigh section deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
16525 July 1944Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France
Completed MissionLow Group.
Sortie Report
16628 July 1944Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
16729 July 1944Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed MissionHigh section lead, lead group, 41st B wing.
Sortie Report
16831 July 1944Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Completed MissionLead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
1691 August 1944Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France
Flying Spare, Returned As BriefedLow Group.
Sortie Report
1703 August 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France
Completed MissionH Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
1714 August 1944Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany
Completed MissionLead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
1747 August 1944Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dugny (Paris), France
Completed MissionHigh group.
Sortie Report
1758 August 1944Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France
Completed MissionHigh section deputy, low group.
Sortie Report
1769 August 1944Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany
Completed MissionLead group.
Sortie Report
17711 August 1944Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France
Completed Mission Sortie Report
17812 August 1944Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France
Completed MissionLow Squadron lead, low group. Landed with #1 feathered.
Sortie Report
18014 August 1944Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Completed MissionLow group.
Sortie Report
18116 August 1944Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany
Aborted Mission After Taking Off.Lead group. Turned back due to a runaway prop on #4 engine.
Sortie Report
18218 August 1944Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Completed MissionHigh group.
Sortie Report
18324 August 1944Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Completed Mission Sortie Report
18526 August 1944Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Completed MissionLow group.
Sortie Report
18630 August 1944Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France
Scrubbed: Did Not Take OffReplaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑107083.
Sortie Report
--1 September 1944Ludwigshaven, Germany, RECALLEDMission Recalled Sortie Report
1873 September 1944Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Flying Spare, Returned As BriefedHigh Squadron
Sortie Report
1885 September 1944Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Completed MissionDid not attack target due to battle damage (wiring shot away) sustained during bomb run. Bomb load returned to base.
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
Crashed In Allied TerritoryLanded in enemy territory on 9 September 1944 near the French town of Harville, Meuse. Aircraft left formation on return near Luxemburg due to battle damage; crash-landed in France; crew evaded and all returned to allied lines by the next day; the aircraft was salvaged.
Sortie Report