43-38263 Dies Irae
B-17G-80-BO
July 14, 1944 Delivered to
Cheyenne
July 22, 1944 to Hunter
July 31, 1944 to Presque Isle
August 2, 1944 Assigned to 7th
Squadrom, 34th Bomb Group, Mendlesham
Mission #64 September 17,
1944 43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #65 September 19,
1944 43-38263 E/N 391BS Palmer
Mission #66 September 22,
1944 43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #67 September 25,
1944 43-38263 E/N 4BS Timblin
Mission #68 September 26,
1944 43-38263 E/N 4BS McCage
Mission #69 September 27,
1944 43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #70 September 28,
1944 43-38263 E/N (scheduled for Mowers but replaced.)
Mission #71 October 2, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
October 2, 1944 43-38263 E/N
On Marshalling Chart on Hardstand
#7 at 2100-2200 hours.
Mission #73 October 5, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS Richardson
Mission #74 October 6, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS
Mowers
Major damage
Mission #77 October 14, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #79 October 17, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS
Mowers
Jettisoned bombs due to malfunction.
Mission #94 November 29, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers Major damage
Mission #95 November 30, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers Major damage
Mission #98 December 6, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS James
Mission #99 December 11, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #100 December 12, 1944
43-38263 E/N 7BS Alling
Mission #101 December 15,
1944 43-38263 E/N 7BS Carter
Mission #102 December 24,
1944 43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #103 December 27,
1944 43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #104 December 28,
1944 43-38263 E/N 7BS Roscher
Mission #105 December 30,
1944 43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #106 December 31,
1944 43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #109 January 7, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Mission #110 January 10, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS Vick
Mission #111 January 13, 1945
43-38263 E/N (unused ground spare)
Mission #112 January 14, 1945
43-38263 E/N (unused ground spare)
Mission #113 January 15, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS Peterson
Mission #114 January 16, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS Mowers
Landed in Belgium at RAF base.
Mission #115 January 20, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS
Austin
#1 engine out. 5 Crewmembers bailed out. See below.
Mission #115 January 20, 1945
B-17G 43-38263 E/N This plane caught fire in #1 engine during assembly
over Buncher #19 at about 20,000 feet. As the flames began to flow over the
wing, the pilot had the crew stand by for bail out. As the flames continued to
increase in intensity and the aircraft started to go out of control into in
diving spiral, the pilot ordered the bail out as it seemed the plane could blow
up at any moment. 5 crewmembers bailed out at this time, over the English
Channel. Air-Sea Rescue was advised immediately. When the increased airspeed
seemed to extinguish the flames, the remaining crew was ordered to stand by and
await developments. Returning to the field the plane caught fire once again
then went out as it came in for a landing. Caught fire again when it landed but
went out as the prop stopped turning. As the crew left the plane, it caught
fire once again and had to be put out by the fire crews. With 7BS. Pilot:
Austin. Unnumbered Missing Air Crew Report showing 5 MIA, later changed to KIA.
The plane was eventually repaired and put back into service.
RTD AUSTIN RAYMOND E
(P)
1 LT
7
O-759100
RTD SORRELL, RAYMOND G JR
(CP) 2 LT
7
O-768280
KIA SOMMER PETER W
(N)
1 LT 7
O-723197
IL
RTD DAVIS KENNETH J
(R)
T/SGT 7
19095572
RTD WILLIAMS FELIX M JR
(E)
SGT 7
34702621
RTD COBB CECIL G
(BT)
S/SGT 7
34632370
KIA FISHER JAMES W
(WG)
S/SGT 7
38532803
TX
KIA HICKERSON THOMAS W
(TG)
S/SGT
7
38563457
OK
KIA YATES ROBERT J
(Tog)
T/SGT 7
39551990
CA
KIA RIVETT RICHARD S
(Photographer) S/SGT
391
16076381
IL
Mission #119 February 3, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS James
Mission #120 February 6, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS
Curtiss
Landed away at B-58. Returned to Mendlesham 9Feb45.
Mission #122 February 14,
1945 43-38263 E/N 7BS Dold
Mission #123 February 15,
1945 43-38263 E/N 7BS Sheesley Landed at
Brussels, Belgium.
Mission #171 May 1, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS Balzer
Mission #172 May 2, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS Couse
Mission #173 May 3, 1945 43-38263
E/N 7BS Balzer
Mission #174 May 5, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS Balzer
Mission #175 May 6, 1945
43-38263 E/N 18BS Williams (listed incorrectly as E/H)
Mission #176 May 7, 1945
43-38263 E/N 7BS Balzer
Mission #177 May 15, 1945
43-38263 E/N Carman
43-38263 Dies Irae
B-17G-80-BO
June 21, 1945 Returned to US
Bradley
Flown to US by Clarke crew
#5-34.. (Microfilm reel BO115, p.1462)
Clarke, William
W.
2 Lt
O-833497
Pilot
1091
Culbertson, Charles E.
2
Lt
O-2063987
Co-Pilot
1091
Lehman, Ralph
M.
2 Lt
O-2074007
Nav
1034
Hensler, Robert
A.
Sgt
12161301
Engr
748
Knudson, Sterling
B.
Sgt
32896916
Radio Op
757
Wadsworth, Herbert S.
Sgt
33246371
Crew Chief
750
Faber, Stephen A.
Sgt
33117914
Gunner
747
Smith, Ralph K.
Sgt 33736775
?
Gunner
612 (could be 33756775)
Mason, Jack
A.
Sgt
13134730
Gunner
611
Poulos,
Arthur
Sgt
11141110
Gunner
611
Krell,
Arden
Capt
O-868206
Passenger
4822
Barnett, Louis
M.
M/Sgt
33193120
Passenger
678
Grimes, Robert
M.
T/Sgt
15103718
Passenger
911
Blair,
Andrew
S/Sgt
34268284
Passenger
911
Kelley, James
F.
1 Lt
02068099
Passenger
1035
Rouse, Ebern
D.
Sgt
34464204
Passenger
911
Barbee, William
J.
Cpl 35174972
Passenger
911
Noble, Leonard
W.
Sgt
34770249
Passenger
678
Tatich, George
C.
Sgt
33420134
Passenger
678
Vanasdale, Burton
C.
Cpl
35622421
Passenger
911
June 23, 1945 to 4168 BU
South Plains
December 17, 1945 RFC
Kingman.