44-8283 Lucky 13 - Dinah-Mite Lost 4-5-45
B-17G-55-VE
August 2, 1944 Delivered to Cheyenne
August 9, 1944 to Kearney
August 17, 1944 to Grenier
August 20, 1944 Assigned to 18th Squadron, 34th Bomb Group, Mendlesham.
Originally named “Lucky 13”
Renamed “Dinah-Mite” at some point.
MISSION LIST
Mission #64 September 17, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Parkhusrt
Mission #65 September 19, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Hemingway
Mission #66 September 22, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Coupland
Mission #67 September 25, 1944 44-8283 B/G (scheduled for Coupland but replaced)
Mission #68 September 26, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Coupland
Mission #71 October 2, 1944 44-8283 B/G 4BS Allenman
Mission #72 October 3, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Gardner
Mission #73 October 5, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Coupland
Mission #74 October 6, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Coupland
Mission #77 October 14, 1944 44-8283 B/G (unused ground spare)
Mission #78 October 15, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #80 October 19, 1944 44-8283 B/G 7BS Carter
Mission #81 October 22, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Ratcliff
Mission #82 October 25, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Ratcliff
Mission #84 October 28, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #85 October 30, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #86 November 4, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Lerch
Mission #87 November 5, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Bouldin
Mission #90 November 16, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Harris
Mission #91 November 21, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #92 November 25, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams Leaflets only.
Mission #95 November 30, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Peede
Mission #96 December 4, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Kyser
Mission #97 December 5, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #99 December 11, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #100 December 12, 1944 44-8283 B/G 391BS Harris
Mission #101 December 15, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #102 December 24, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #103 December 27, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #104 December 28, 1944 44-8283 B/G (unused ground spare)
Mission #105 December 30, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Jones, W. S.
Mission #106 December 31, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams (incorrectly listed as 382 but with R/T of B/G)
Mission #107 January 2, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #108 January 3, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #109 January 7, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #110 January 10, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Fiedler
Mission #114 January 16, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #142 March 14, 1945 44-8283 B/G 391BS Schaus
Mission #143 March 15, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Feidler
Mission #144 March 17, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #145 March 18, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #148 March 21, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #149 March 22, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #150 March 23, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #151 March 24, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Hamilton
Mission #152 March 26, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #154 March 30, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Hamilton
Mission #155 March 31, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #156 April 3, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #157 April 4, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #158 April 5, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling MISSING. See below.
MISSION DETAILS
Mission #64 September 17, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Parkhusrt
Mission #65 September 19, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Hemingway
Mission #66 September 22, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Coupland
Mission #67 September 25, 1944 44-8283 B/G (scheduled for Coupland but replaced)
Mission #68 September 26, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Coupland
Photographer T/Sgt Shepherd G. Litsey 18180011 Lightly WIA and sent to 65th General Hospital.
Mission #71 October 2, 1944 44-8283 B/G 4BS Allenman
October 2, 1944 44-8283 B/G
On Marshalling Chart on Hardstand #13 at 2100-2200 hours.
Mission #72 October 3, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Gardner
Mission #73 October 5, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Coupland
Mission #74 October 6, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Coupland
Major damage.
Mission #77 October 14, 1944 44-8283 B/G (unused ground spare)
Mission #78 October 15, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #80 October 19, 1944 44-8283 B/G 7BS Carter
Mission #81 October 22, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Ratcliff
Mission #82 October 25, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Ratcliff
Mission #84 October 28, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #85 October 30, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #86 November 4, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Lerch
Pilot's oxygen system low. Inspected and repaired.
Mission #87 November 5, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Bouldin
Mission #90 November 16, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Harris
Mission #91 November 21, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #92 November 25, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams Leaflets only.
Mission #95 November 30, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Peede
Mission #96 December 4, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Kyser
Mission #97 December 5, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #99 December 11, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #100 December 12, 1944 44-8283 B/G 391BS Harris
Mission #101 December 15, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #102 December 24, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #103 December 27, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Aborted – mechanical.
Mission #104 December 28, 1944 44-8283 B/G (unused ground spare)
Mission #105 December 30, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Jones, W. S.
Mission #106 December 31, 1944 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams (incorrectly listed as 382 but with R/T of B/G)
Mission #107 January 2, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #108 January 3, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #109 January 7, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Mission #110 January 10, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Fiedler
Mission #114 January 16, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Abrams
Landed at Antwerp, Belgium
Mission #142 March 14, 1945 44-8283 B/G 391BS Schaus
Aborted - Top turret dome blown out.
Mission #143 March 15, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Feidler
Mission #144 March 17, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Aborted - #3 engine out plus other problems.
Mission #145 March 18, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Aborted - #3 engine trouble – jettisoned bombs.
Mission #148 March 21, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #149 March 22, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #150 March 23, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #151 March 24, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Hamilton
Mission #152 March 26, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #154 March 30, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Hamilton
Bombs would not salvo. Dropped 6, jettisoned 4, returned 2.
Mission #155 March 31, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #156 April 3, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #157 April 4, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling
Mission #158 April 5, 1945 44-8283 B/G 18BS Mehling MISSING. See below.
Mission #158 April 5, 1945 B-17G 44-8283 B/G “Dinah-Mite” Missing in Action Nuremburg flak. At bombs away, one bomb hug up on one end of the shackle. The plane left formation and began trailing behind, eventually losing sight of formation due to low visibility. Crossing the coast 5-7 miles East of Dunkirk, flak and machine gun fire hit the plane, seriously wounding Harris (B). A fire broke out behind #2 engine and the left alerion was shot out. Share (R) was also wounded. Ditched in the English Channel. At ditching Harris (B) was either dead or near dead. Huntley (CP) apparently never managed to get out. Deines (WG) got out but was holding on the tail section and would not release, saying he could not swim, even though he was wearing a MaeWest. He went down with the tail, still holding on. With 18BS. Pilot: Mehling. No Missing Air Crew Report. 3 Killed in Action, 6 rescued from the Channel and 5 returned to duty. Share (R) was severely wounded and lost his right leg as a result.
MEHLING GEORGE (P) LT
KIA HUNTLEY WENDELL M (CP) 2 LT 18 O-2063534
RTD BRITTON HARRISON (N)
KIA HARRIS RUSSELL L 2 LT 18 O-2071975 MI
RTD NIATAS STEPHEN (TT)
WIA SHARE JACK (R) SGT 18 32678875
RTD LAMPREY ROBERT (BT)
KIA DINNIS ALBERT E (WG) SGT 18 19202185
RTD MORGAN LOU (TG)
S/Sgt Share was admitted to 105th British General Hospital in Ostend, Belgium.