| Serial Number: | 42-29784 |
| Name: | SMILIN-THRU |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-70-BO, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 545th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 545th‑JD*V |
| Start Date: | 4 October 1943. Transferred: Received from the 381st BG.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 1 combat mission with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 14 October 1943. Crashed. |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-29784 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-29784 Delivered to the Cheyenne, Wyoming Modification center on 18 February 1943. Moved to Salina, Kansas on 2 March 1943. Ferried overseas and assigned to the 366th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code KY-K, 305th Bombardment Group, Station 105, Chelveston on 18 May 1943. Transferred to the 534th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code GD-E/F, 381st Bombardment Group, station 167, Ridgewell on 11 September 1943. Transferred to the 545th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code JD-V, 384th Bombardment Group, Station 106, Grafton Underwood on 4 October 1943. On return from the second Schweinfurt mission with battle damage, 14 October 1943, with Pilot-Erwin C. Johnson, Co-pilot-Elliott Leroy Gadd, Navigator-William E. Bailey, Bombardier-George J. Littleton, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner-Leo A. Hunt, Radio Operator-Sam D. Ranallo, Ball Turret Gunner-Clement A. Couture, Tail Gunner Lawrence L. Parsons, Waist Gunner-Earl S. Baker and Waist Gunner-Gustave Fless. The entire crew bailed out and returned to duty. The aircraft crashed near Baydon, Wiltshire, UK. The aircraft was salvaged on 18 October 1943. Aircraft Name: SMILIN-THRU |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | 13 October 1943 | Emden, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 32⇗ | 14 October 1943 | Target: Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Crashed In Allied Territory | Crew bailed out over England; their battle-damaged aircraft crash-landed near Baydon, Wiltshire. Erwin C. Johnson and Elliott L. Gadd were injured as a result of bailing out. Johnson did not fly again. Gadd remained off flight status until 5 December 1943. Sortie Report ⇗ |