43-38433 unknown name SAL 4-14-45
B-17G-85-BO
August 2, 1944 Delivered to Cheyenne
August 12, 1944 to Kearney
August 22, 1944 to Grenier
August 30, 1944 Assigned to 18th Squadron, 34th Bomb Group, Mendlesham
MISSION LIST
Mission #64 September 17, 1944 43-38433 B/R 4BS Carter
Mission #66 September 22, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Richardson
Mission #67 September 25, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Ratcliff
Mission #68 September 26, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #69 September 27, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Perry
October 2, 1944 43-38433 B/R
On Marshalling Chart in Hanger #2 at 2100-2200 hours.
Mission #75 October 7, 1944 43-38433 B/R 7BS Runyan Major damage.
Mission #76 October 9, 1944 43-38433 B/R Bouldin
Mission #77 October 14, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #78 October 15, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin Major Damage
Mission #90 November 16, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #91 November 21, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #92 November 25, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Ratcliff Landed in Belgium
Mission #94 November 29, 1944 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #95 November 30, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #96 December 4, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #97 December 5, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Peede
Mission #98 December 6, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #99 December 11, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Harris
Mission #100 December 12, 1944 43-38433 B/R 391BS Bouldin
Mission #101 December 15, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #102 December 24, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Richardson, L
Mission #103 December 27, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin Leaflets only.
Mission #104 December 28, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #105 December 30, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #106 December 31, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #107 January 2, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #108 January 3, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #110 January 10, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #111 January 13, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #112 January 14, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Abrams
Mission #113 January 15, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Fiedler One man WIA
Mission #114 January 16, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Mann
Mission #115 January 20, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #116 January 23, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #117 January 28, 1945 43-38433 B/R Abrams (Scheduled but did not take off)
Mission #118 January 29, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Abrams
Mission #120 February 6, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Fiedler
Mission #121 February 9, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #122 February 14, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Thompson
Mission #123 February 15, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #124 February 17, 1945 43-38433 B/R 7BS James
Mission #125 February 19, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #126 February 20, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Fiedler
Mission #127 February 21, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Thompson
Mission #128 February 22, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Meuller
Mission #129 February 24, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #130 February 25, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #131 February 26, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Arand Chaff
Mission #132 February 27, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Mueller Aborted - one engine out.
Mission #135 March 3, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #136 March 4, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #137 March 7, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bolser
Mission #141 March 12, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hall
Mission #142 March 14, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hall
Mission #144 March 17, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bolser
Mission #146 March 19, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Buchanan
Mission #147 March 20, 1945 43-38433 B/R (scheduled for Mehling but replaced)
Mission #148 March 21, 1945 43-38433 B/R (scheduled for Buchanan but replaced)
Mission #149 March 22, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Rawson
Mission #150 March 23, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #151 March 24, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Raymond
Mission #152 March 26, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Nass Aborted mechanical - #4 engine
Mission #153 March 28, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hamilton
Mission #154 March 30, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #155 March 31, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Edwards
Mission #156 April 3, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hamilton
Mission #157 April 4, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Fox
Mission #159 April 7, 1945 43-38433 B/R 391BS Feldman Took off 0920 Aborted - #3 engine out landed 1047.
April 14, 1945 B-17G 43-38433 B/R Crash-landed and salvaged. With 18BS. Pilot: unknown.
MISSION DETAILS
Mission #64 September 17, 1944 43-38433 B/R 4BS Carter
Mission #66 September 22, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Richardson
Mission #67 September 25, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Ratcliff
Mission #68 September 26, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #69 September 27, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Perry
Mission #75 October 7, 1944 43-38433 B/R 7BS Runyan Major damage.
Mission #76 October 9, 1944 43-38433 B/R Bouldin
Mission #77 October 14, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #78 October 15, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Major damage from flak, knocking out two engines. Crash landed upon return to England, but eventually repaired and flown again a month later.
One crewman, T/Sgt Chrisman, WIA in right arm and hand.
Bouldin (P)
Saunders (CP)
Attridge (N)
Boreen (B)
Chrisman, Thomas (R) T/Sgt WIA (Purple Heart not awarded until Oct 15, 2004, 60 years later. See story in email quoted below.)
Reynolds (E)
Hanson (TG)
Dachtler (NG)
McSpadden (G)
Mission #90 November 16, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #91 November 21, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #92 November 25, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Ratcliff Landed in Belgium
Mission #94 November 29, 1944 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #95 November 30, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #96 December 4, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #97 December 5, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Peede
Mission #98 December 6, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #99 December 11, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Harris
Mission #100 December 12, 1944 43-38433 B/R 391BS Bouldin
Mission #101 December 15, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #102 December 24, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Richardson, L
Mission #103 December 27, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin Leaflets only.
Mission #104 December 28, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #105 December 30, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #106 December 31, 1944 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #107 January 2, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #108 January 3, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #110 January 10, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #111 January 13, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bouldin
Mission #112 January 14, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Abrams
Mission #113 January 15, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Fiedler One man WIA
Mission #114 January 16, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Mann
Mission #115 January 20, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #116 January 23, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #117 January 28, 1945 43-38433 B/R Abrams (Scheduled but did not take off)
Mission #118 January 29, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Abrams
Mission #120 February 6, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Fiedler
Mission #121 February 9, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #122 February 14, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Thompson
Mission #123 February 15, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #124 February 17, 1945 43-38433 B/R 7BS James
Mission #125 February 19, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #126 February 20, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Fiedler
Mission #127 February 21, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Thompson
Mission #128 February 22, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Meuller
Mission #129 February 24, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #130 February 25, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #131 February 26, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Arand Chaff
Mission #132 February 27, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Mueller Aborted - one engine out.
Mission #135 March 3, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #136 March 4, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hemingway
Mission #137 March 7, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bolser
Mission #141 March 12, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hall
Mission #142 March 14, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hall
Mission #144 March 17, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Bolser
Mission #146 March 19, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Buchanan
Mission #147 March 20, 1945 43-38433 B/R (scheduled for Mehling but replaced)
Mission #148 March 21, 1945 43-38433 B/R (scheduled for Buchanan but replaced)
Mission #149 March 22, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Rawson
Mission #150 March 23, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #151 March 24, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Raymond
Mission #152 March 26, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Nass Aborted mechanical - #4 engine
Mission #153 March 28, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hamilton
Mission #154 March 30, 1945 43-38433 B/R (unused ground spare)
Mission #155 March 31, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Edwards
Mission #156 April 3, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Hamilton
Mission #157 April 4, 1945 43-38433 B/R 18BS Fox
Mission #159 April 7, 1945 43-38433 B/R 391BS Feldman Took off 0920 Aborted - #3 engine out landed 1047.
April 14, 1945 B-17G 43-38433 B/R Crash-landed and salvaged. With 18BS. Pilot: unknown.
NOTE to Oct 15, 1944 mission.
----- Original Message -----
From: Casaigne Catherine A SrA 355 WG/PA
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 2:28 PM
Subject: story
Sir, I'll see you tomorrow.
Let me know if I got
anything wrong.
DM honors WWII
Airman with Purple Heart on 60 year anniversary.
By Senior Airman
Cat Casaigne
It's been said the generation
of men and women who served in the great world wars was the "greatest
generation," and the Desert Lightning Team had the chance to honor a
member of that great generation by presenting a long over-due Purple Heart Oct.
15.
Oct. 15, 1944, 60
years prior to the day he received the award, Tech. Sgt. Thomas Chrisman was
flying over Nazi Germany as a radio operator on a B-17 when he and his crew
came under extreme anti-aircraft fire. A shell exploded right under the plane.
The explosion injured Mr. Chrisman, who was hit with shrapnel in his right hand
and arm. It also took out two engines and damaged a third. The bomber dropped
out of formation and when the pilot gained control, they headed slowly home.
Despite his injuries, Mr. Chrisman stayed on the radio, ensuring that if the
crew and the bomber did not reach their base, there would be a rescue crew to
pick them up. The plane did make it home to England where it successfully crash
landed.
Col. Mike Spencer,
355th Wing commander, presented a Purple Heart to Mr. Chrisman, who had tears
of joy streaming down his face, at a commander's call. Mr. Chrisman's family,
to include his wife, children, grandchildren, and a great grandchild, were
there to support him.
"I, like so
many young men, went to war when the country needed me," Mr. Chrisman
said. "I never asked my country for anything except for a place to live my
life the way I wanted to live it. Thank God for the United States of
America."
Mr. Chrisman said
the crew he flew with had a goal: To go home to the United States together.
After getting hit, Mr. Chrisman did not want to miss a mission, which would
have made the goal impossible, so although he did seek medical attention, he
played the injury off like a scratch, allowing his hand to heal with the shrapnel
inside. The piece of shrapnel was removed from his hand two years ago.
"Today is the
60th anniversary of the day I was awarded this for," he said. "Back
then, there was not the media like there is today and there was a fire in the
hall of records in 1973 when all of my medical records were destroyed, so this
has been a long time coming. Everyone else says it's about time, but I did not
really know what to expect. It had happened during the war and I had just about
given up on it. But my lovely wife persisted and we saw the results
today."
Colonel Spencer
said it was truly his honor to present the award to Mr. Chrisman.
"Mr. Chrisman
is an Airman in every sense of the word," Colonel Spencer said at the
commander's call. "He served his country in war and peace, and we have the
chance to honor him for one of his truly heroic days. I am very proud to have
this opportunity. We in the Desert Lightning Team are very fortunate for
your service, your sacrifice and the legacy you've set for us."
Oct. 15, 1944 was
not the only time Mr. Chrisman's crew ran into trouble. On two other occasions,
the crew was forced to crash land. One time, they crash landed while carrying
300 five gallon cans of fuel to Gen. Patton's Army. Mr. Chrisman spent 2
years in the military where he completed 34 combat missions. He turned 20 years
old one month after he entered the Army Air Corps.
"I had always
had a love for airplanes and radio was a hobby of mine," he said.
"The only advice I could give today's Airmen is learn all you can about
your job and do it the best you can do, because the training you are going to
get will save you live."
Mr. Chrisman said
it was an honor to serve his country.
"I am very
proud to receive the medal, and if I was able and my country needed me, yes, I
would do it all over again," he said.
Very respectfully,
SrA Cat. Casaigne
355th Wing Public
Affairs
228-2187