| Serial Number: | 42-29733 |
| Name: | LOUISIANA PURCHASE |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-70-BO, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 544th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 544th‑SU*D |
| Start Date: | 6 November 1943. Transferred: Received from the 305th BG.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 2 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 16 December 1943. Salvaged: Crash-landed at Coltishall on return from combat mission. |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-29733 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-29733 Delivered to the Denver, Colorado Modification Center on 11 February 1943. Moved to Pueblo, Colorado on 19 February 1943; Salina, Kansas on 25 February 1943; Gulfport, Mississippi on 18 March 1943; Brookley Field, Alabama on 28 March 1943 and then Presque Isle, Maine on 8 April 1943. Ferried overseas and assigned to the 331st Bombardment Squadron, squadron code QE-P, 94th Bombardment Group, station 121, Bassingbourne, UK on 17 April 1943, (named HEAVY DATE); then Earls Colne, station 358 on 12 May 1943. The ship was involved in slight mid-air collision with 42-29711 and force landed 15 miles from Lowestoft w/Willis Frank on 6 June 1943; Rougham, station 468 on 13 June 1943. Transferred to the 422nd Bombardment Squadron, squadron code JJ-V/L, 305th Bombardment Group, station 105, Chelveston on 14 July 1943. Transferred to the 544th Bombardment squadron, squadron code SU-D, station 106, Grafton Underwood on 6 November 1943. On return from a mission to Bremen, Germany with battle damage, the ship overshot the runway at RAF Coltishall, station 355, on 19 December 1943, with Pilot-George Cosentino, Co-pilot ?Robert H. Cass, Navigator-Theophelius Edward Bienar, Bombardier-George S. Malcom, Radio Operator Alfred G. Cason, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner-Donald Thomas Vorisek, Ball Turret Gunner-William S. Curtis, Tail Gunner-Glenn M. Faust, Waist Gunner-Frank H. Butman and Waist Gunner-James F. Stanley (10 Returned to Duty), The aircraft was salvaged. Aircraft Name: LOUISIANA PURCHASE |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40⇗ | 5 December 1943 | Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France | Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 42⇗ | 13 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Low group.
FLIGHT TIME 5:30 Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 43⇗ | 16 December 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany | Completed Mission | Crash-landed (overshot) at RAF Coltishall due to battle damage. "The A/C is a total wreck but none of the crew were injured." Sortie Report ⇗ |