B-17F 42-30040

Aircraft Details

Serial Number:	42-30040
Name:	PICCADILLY COMMANDO
Manufacturer:	Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-85-BO, Camouflage
Squadron:	546th Bombardment Squadron (H)
Squadron ID Code:	546th‑BK*B
Ground Crew Chief:	Hunter, Jack Walter
Start Date:	1 April 1943. Original AC.
Missions:	This aircraft was credited with 2 combat missions with the 384th.
End Date:	6 July 1943. Transferred: Sent to the 96th BG.
Photo Album:	No Photo Album For This Aircraft
History:	42-30040 Delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming for modification on 2 April 1943; Sioux City, Iowa on 13 April 1943; Kearney, Nebraska on 3 May 1943; Dow Field, Maine on 20 May 1943. Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code BK-B, 384th Bombardment Group, station 106, Grafton Underwood, UK on 22 May 1943, named PICCADILLY COMMANDO. The ship flew two combat missions with the 384th Bombardment Group before being transferred to the 337th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code AW-A, 96th Bombardment Group, station 138, Snetterton Heath on 6 July 1943. MIA on a mission to Schweinfurt, Germany, 14 October 1943 with pilot-Robert Harmeson, radio operator-Tollie Berry, ball turret gunner-Jay Jolley, waist gunner-William Howell, waist gunner-Lester Knopp, tail gunner-Robert Henry (6 Prisoner of War). Navigator-Vernon Clark, bombardier-Charles Bronner, engineer/top turret gunner-William Dunning evaded capture (3 EVD). Co-pilot-Charles Baer was Killed in Action (KIA). The aircraft was shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed at Avincourt, 12 miles North of St Dizier, France. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) #837. Aircraft Name: WABBIT-TWACKS III.
Bits & Pieces:	230040 384 546 BK B Piccadilly Commando 29 03 43 AI 21 05 43 AOS 00 04 43 G 06 07 43 96BG 230040 96 337 AW A Wabbit-Twacks III 29 03 43 AI 21 05 43 AOS 06 07 43 G 384BG 14 10 43 FTR GF CR Avvincourt, France - Lt Robert H. Harmeson - 4 EVD, 1 KIA, 5 POW - E&E 290, 292, 1526 - MACR 837 See: BIRM 18 - CAMA 152 - CAMB 61 - FREJ 86
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B-17F Aircraft 42-30040 Was Assigned To 3 Missions Manned by 384th BG Personnel,
Earning Combat Credit For 2 Of Them
Number	Date	Target	Results	Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗	22 June 1943	Target: General Motors Truck Factory Type: Industry Location: Antwerp, Belgium	Completed Mission	Sortie Report ⇗
5⇗	29 June 1943	Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Completed Mission	Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑30046. Sortie Report ⇗
6⇗	4 July 1943	Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France	Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused