Serial Number: | 42-29985 |
Name: | KATHLEEN / BARREL HOUSE BESSIE |
Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-80-BO, Camouflage |
Squadron: | 545th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
Squadron ID Code: | 545th‑JD*Y |
Start Date: | 28 June 1943. New Replacement AC. |
Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 6 combat missions with the 384th. |
End Date: | 22 August 1943. Transferred: Sent to the 306th BG. |
Photo Album: | No Photo Album For This Aircraft |
History: | 42-29985 Delivered to Denver, Colorado on 22 March 1943; Cheyenne, Wyoming on 31 March 1943; Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas on 5 April 1943; Dow Field, Maine on 15 April 1943. Force landed at Meeks Field, Iceland w/Rich Jerger on17 April 1943. Assigned to the 545th bombardment Squadron, squadron code JD-Y, 384th bombardment Group, station 106, Grafton Underwood, UK on 28 June 1943. Transferred to the 367th BS/306th BG [GY-X] Thurleigh on 22 August 1943; MIA Bremen 8/10/43 w/Tom Ledgerwood, Co-pilot-John Acker, Navigator-Myron Sorden, Bombardier-Gene Levy, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner-Harvey Cook, Radio Operator-Bob Van Dragt, Ball Turret Gunner-John Spell, Waist Gunner-Pat Walsh, Observer-Capt Paul George (9 POW); Waist Gunner-Andy Fila (died of wounds 6 Nov}, Tail Gunner-Art Robinson {trapped in tail when ship hit by Me 110 rockets} (2 KIA); Attacks by enemy aircraft set two engines on fire, crashed at Handrup, 10 miles NE of Lingen, Germany. Missing Air crew Report (MACR) #868. KATHLEEN aka BARREL HOUSE BESSIE. |
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Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
---|---|---|---|---|
6⇗ | 4 July 1943 | Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
-- | 9 July 1943 | Abbeville, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
7⇗ | 10 July 1943 | Target: Drucat Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Abbeville, France | Completed Mission | Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
9⇗ | 24 July 1943 | Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants Type: Industry Location: Herøya, Norway | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
10⇗ | 25 July 1943 | Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard Type: Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
-- | 26 July 1943 | Hamburg, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
11⇗ | 28 July 1943 | Target: Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back after the loss of parts of oxygen system and #1 engine. Sortie Report ⇗ |
12⇗ | 29 July 1943 | Target: Naval Base Type: Military Location: Kiel, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back near enemy coast when #1 and #2 engines lost power and could not stay with formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
13⇗ | 30 July 1943 | Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back ten miles from the English coast due to 'high cylinder head temperatures and rough No. 2 engine.' Sortie Report ⇗ |
14⇗ | 12 August 1943 | Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Low Squadron deputy. Returned early after #1 engine oil cooler sprung leak and lost power. Bombed a target of opportunity (TOO), an airfield in The Netherlands. Sortie Report ⇗ |