"Stella", a Boeing-built B-17F-65-BO, Ser. No. 42-29651, with squadron codes SU+G served with the 544th Squadron, 384th Bomb Group from June 27th, 1943 until April 4th, 1944. It returned to the USA on July 3rd, 1944 and was scrapped at Altus, Oklahoma on August 17th, 1945.
On February 21st, 1944, the Clayton Crew flew this aircraft on a mission to Lingen, Germany. 2nd Lt. Winthrop A. Jackson Jr reported the results as follows: "...6 hrs 30 min. VISUAL (ROUGH)".
The 384th post mission report contains the following entry:
"A/C No. 651, (Lt. Clayton Pilot), turned and landed away
at Attlebridge because of technical failure, and has since returned to this
base. His bomb load of 12 X 500 GP's were dropped on the Target of Opportunity".
Source: Microfilm
#B0374, AFHRA/RSA
Former Sgt. Jack K. Goetz (flight engineer/top turret gunner with the Jacobs crew) remembers his pilot, Lt. Randolph Jacobs saying "Stella" was a real dog, requiring constant re-trimming in flight.
Photo courtesy of Jack Goetz
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