| Serial Number: | 42-29728 |
| Name: | EL RAUNCHO |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-65-BO, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 544th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 544th‑SU*J |
| Start Date: | 12 July 1943. Transferred: Received from the 94th BG.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 3 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 17 August 1943. Salvaged: Crash-landed at base on return from combat mission. |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-29728 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-29728 Delivered to the Cheyenne, Wyoming Modification Center on 9 February 1943. Moved to Pueblo, Colorado on 19 February 1943; Salina, Kansas on 25 February 1943; Casper, Wyoming on 1 April 1943 and then to Dow Field, Maine on 15 April 1943. Ferried overseas and assigned to the 332nd Bombardment Squadron, squadron code XM-H, 94th Bombardment Group, station 121, Bassingbourne, UK on 20 April 1943; Earls Colne, Station 268 on 12 May 143 then station 468, Rougham on 13 June 1943. Transferred to the 544th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code SU-J, 384th Bombardment Group, station 106, Grafton Underwood on 12 July 1943. On return from the first Schweinfurt mission, 17 August 1943, with battle damage from enemy aircraft, the ship crash landed at Grafton Underwood with Pilot-Randolph G. E. Jacobs, Co-pilot-Eugene A. Boger, Navigator-John Quinn Curtin, Bombardier-James Edward Seibel, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner-Aldo J. Gregori, Radio Operator-Doy J. Cloud, Ball Turret Gunner-Thomas Joseph Vezina, Tail Gunner-Robert L. Compton, Waist Gunner-Jack Keith Goetz and Waist Gunner Lawrence C. Wager (10 Returned to Duty). The aircraft was salvaged. Aircraft Name: EL RAUNCHO |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9⇗ | 24 July 1943 | Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants Type: Industry Location: Herøya, Norway | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑30139. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 10⇗ | 25 July 1943 | Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard Type: Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑30075. 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 | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 15⇗ | 15 August 1943 | Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 17⇗ | 17 August 1943 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Completed Mission | Aircraft suffered battle damage; crash landed at base. Sortie Report ⇗ |