42-30337 - B-17F 'Eight Ball/ Flak Hack', 570 BS, 390 BG
B-17F Flying Fortress 42-30337 was delivered from its manufacture to Cheyenne on 18th. May 1943.
It then flew to,
Gore on 20th. May 1943
Geiger on 28th. May 1943;
Great Falls on 7th. June 1943
Smoky Hill on 2nd. July 1943
Dow Field on 13th. July 1943
On 13th. July 1943 it was assigned to 570th. Bomb Squadron, 390th. Bomb Group at USAAF Station 153 Parham (Framlingham). Once it arrived it was coded DI-B and named 'Eight Ball'
On Sunday 26th. September 1943, 6296017 Tech Sergeant Noel H. Howard, nicknamed 'Tince', from the 30th Station Complement Squadron was a replacement radio operator/gunner for 42-30337's regular crewman who was ill or otherwise unavailable to fly.
The mission took the bomber over France, where heavy German fighter aircraft activity was encountered, as well as thunderstorms and turbulence. During a scheduled oxygen check with all crew members over the radio by the bombardier 33074047/ O-? 1st. Lt. Dean C. Ferris, Noel didn't respond. Dean then grabbed a portable oxygen tank and made his way to the R.O. station where he found Noel on the floor and unresponsive. His oxygen mask was off, and filled with frozen vomit which had clogged the mask. It was never determined whether he was airsick or frightened that causing him to vomiting. Upon return to base, an ambulance met the plane and took Noel away.
Noel was born on 8th. February 1917 at Biardstown, Texas. He died of injuries, aged 26, on 26th. September 1943. He is buried in Plot F, Row 3, Grave 45 at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
42-30337 was transferred to 571st. Bomb Squadron, 390th. Bomb Group at Parham. It was coded FC-D and named 'Flak Hack'.
On 10th. February 1944 42-30337 is on her 30th bombing mission. She is one of a force of 169 B-17F's from 3rd. Bomb Division despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Brunswick, Germany as 'Mission 216'. German fighter resistance is fierce and US fighter escort is hampered by weather and missed rendezvous. Heavy bomber losses are horrendous with the equivalent of an entire Bomb Group lost.
42-30337 is attacked by German fighters after falling behind in the formation when the bomb doors would not close. The bomber crash landed at Streipe, near Lingen/Ems, Germany. Seven of the crew are killed in action. It is probable that the crewmen were buried in New Cemetery, Lingen, Germany, before being reburied.
O-803788 1st. Lt. Grady E. Dover, pilot.
Born on15th. March 1921 at Cleveland County, North Carolina.
Died, aged 22, and buried at Sunset Cemetery, Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina.
O-809699 2nd. Lt. Donel O'Brien, navigator.
Born on 11th. February 1921 at Evanston, Cook County, Illinois.
Died, aged 22, and buried in
Plot A, Row 36, Grave 24 in Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Liège, Belgium.
32470751 Staff Sgt. Henry E. Smith, radio operator/gunner.
Born 18th. March 1921 at Broome County, New York.
Died, aged 22, and buried at Hale Eddy Cemetery, Deposit, Broome County, New York.
33350599 Sgt. Michael Chernick, ball turret gunner.
From Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.
Buried in Plot D, Row 10, Grave 4, at Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Liège, Belgium.
11045274 Staff Sgt. James F. McAuliffe, left waist gunner.
Born 1st. January 1918 at Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut.
Died, aged 26,and buried in Plot D, Row 11, Grave 50 at Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Liège, Belgium.
33332471 Staff Sgt. James Anthony Milazzo, right waist gunner.
Born 6th. June 1921 at Wildwood, Cape May County, New Jersey.
Died, aged 22, and buried in Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Liège, Belgium.
34644980 Staff Sgt. Rupert Townes Farr, tail gunner.
Born on 18th. February 1923 at
Pickens County, South Carolina.
Died, aged 20, and buried at Lathem Cemetery, Easley, Pickens County, South Carolina.
Three crewmen survived,
O-679811 2nd. Lt. John F. Beard, co-pilot.
Born 19th. May 1921.
Became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I, at Barth, Germany.
O-671440 2nd. Lt. Cloud Hodgson, bombardier.
Became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I, at Barth, Germany.
37434430 Staff Sgt. Chester A. Gillen, top turret gunner.
Became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft IV, Gross Tychow, Pomerania, Poland.
This print, taken from an original wartime photograph, is called 'Mission Accomplished' and is by Wade Meyers.
42-30337 - B-17F 'Eight Ball/ Flak Hack', 570 BS, 390 BG
B-17F Flying Fortress 42-30337 was delivered from its manufacture to Cheyenne on 18th. May 1943.
It then flew to,
Gore on 20th. May 1943
Geiger on 28th. May 1943;
Great Falls on 7th. June 1943
Smoky Hill on 2nd. July 1943
Dow Field on 13th. July 1943
On 13th. July 1943 it was assigned to 570th. Bomb Squadron, 390th. Bomb Group at USAAF Station 153 Parham (Framlingham). Once it arrived it was coded DI-B and named 'Eight Ball'
On Sunday 26th. September 1943, 6296017 Tech Sergeant Noel H. Howard, nicknamed 'Tince', from the 30th Station Complement Squadron was a replacement radio operator/gunner for 42-30337's regular crewman who was ill or otherwise unavailable to fly.
The mission took the bomber over France, where heavy German fighter aircraft activity was encountered, as well as thunderstorms and turbulence. During a scheduled oxygen check with all crew members over the radio by the bombardier 33074047/ O-? 1st. Lt. Dean C. Ferris, Noel didn't respond. Dean then grabbed a portable oxygen tank and made his way to the R.O. station where he found Noel on the floor and unresponsive. His oxygen mask was off, and filled with frozen vomit which had clogged the mask. It was never determined whether he was airsick or frightened that causing him to vomiting. Upon return to base, an ambulance met the plane and took Noel away.
Noel was born on 8th. February 1917 at Biardstown, Texas. He died of injuries, aged 26, on 26th. September 1943. He is buried in Plot F, Row 3, Grave 45 at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridgeshire.
42-30337 was transferred to 571st. Bomb Squadron, 390th. Bomb Group at Parham. It was coded FC-D and named 'Flak Hack'.
On 10th. February 1944 42-30337 is on her 30th bombing mission. She is one of a force of 169 B-17F's from 3rd. Bomb Division despatched to bomb the industrial areas of Brunswick, Germany as 'Mission 216'. German fighter resistance is fierce and US fighter escort is hampered by weather and missed rendezvous. Heavy bomber losses are horrendous with the equivalent of an entire Bomb Group lost.
42-30337 is attacked by German fighters after falling behind in the formation when the bomb doors would not close. The bomber crash landed at Streipe, near Lingen/Ems, Germany. Seven of the crew are killed in action. It is probable that the crewmen were buried in New Cemetery, Lingen, Germany, before being reburied.
O-803788 1st. Lt. Grady E. Dover, pilot.
Born on15th. March 1921 at Cleveland County, North Carolina.
Died, aged 22, and buried at Sunset Cemetery, Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina.
O-809699 2nd. Lt. Donel O'Brien, navigator.
Born on 11th. February 1921 at Evanston, Cook County, Illinois.
Died, aged 22, and buried in
Plot A, Row 36, Grave 24 in Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Liège, Belgium.
32470751 Staff Sgt. Henry E. Smith, radio operator/gunner.
Born 18th. March 1921 at Broome County, New York.
Died, aged 22, and buried at Hale Eddy Cemetery, Deposit, Broome County, New York.
33350599 Sgt. Michael Chernick, ball turret gunner.
From Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.
Buried in Plot D, Row 10, Grave 4, at Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Liège, Belgium.
11045274 Staff Sgt. James F. McAuliffe, left waist gunner.
Born 1st. January 1918 at Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut.
Died, aged 26,and buried in Plot D, Row 11, Grave 50 at Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Liège, Belgium.
33332471 Staff Sgt. James Anthony Milazzo, right waist gunner.
Born 6th. June 1921 at Wildwood, Cape May County, New Jersey.
Died, aged 22, and buried in Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Liège, Belgium.
34644980 Staff Sgt. Rupert Townes Farr, tail gunner.
Born on 18th. February 1923 at
Pickens County, South Carolina.
Died, aged 20, and buried at Lathem Cemetery, Easley, Pickens County, South Carolina.
Three crewmen survived,
O-679811 2nd. Lt. John F. Beard, co-pilot.
Born 19th. May 1921.
Became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I, at Barth, Germany.
O-671440 2nd. Lt. Cloud Hodgson, bombardier.
Became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft I, at Barth, Germany.
37434430 Staff Sgt. Chester A. Gillen, top turret gunner.
Became a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft IV, Gross Tychow, Pomerania, Poland.
This print, taken from an original wartime photograph, is called 'Mission Accomplished' and is by Wade Meyers.