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| USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 72nd BS Former Assignments 38th RS |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2224. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2413. Assigned to the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron (38th RS) at Albuquerque Field, New Mexico. No known nickname or nose art. Wartime History On December 6, 1941 took off from Hamilton Field piloted by Major Truman H. Landon on a ferry flight bound for Hickam Field on Oahu. This bomber had the .50 caliber machine guns installed but no ammunition. Aboard was Crew No. 1 including co-pilot 1st Lt William B. M. Ellis, 2nd Lt George L. Newton, 2nd Lt Chester H. Budz, Aviation Cadet Erwin F. Cihak, MSgt John B. Meeks, TSgt Jesse L. Schneider, SSgt Albert E. Brawley, and Sgt Benjamin L. Hale. On December 7, 1941 in the morning incoming Japanese aircraft detected on radar were dismissed as the expected flight of B-17s and arrived during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. This B-17 landed safely at Hickam Field. Afterwards, painted in Hawaiian Air Depot (HAD) three color camouflage scheme consisting of dark green, olive drab and tan upper surfaces with standard gray lower surfaces. During December 1942, this B-17 flew reconnaissance missions from Hickam Field over the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii. Later, assigned to the 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) "Bomber Barons", 72nd Bombardment Squadron (72nd BS). Nicknamed "Lucky 13" based on the last two digits of the serial number being thirteen. Mission History On April 13, 1943 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Mario Sesso with engineer Jake Stull and Kris Kostopolus and tail gunner Ray Smith on a bombing mission against Kahili Airfield (Buin) on southern Bougainville. Returning, this B-17 ditched off Santa Isabel. Fate of the Crew Afterwards, the crew were rescued by a PBY Catalina. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2413 "2413 delivered Salt Lake SAD Nov 30, 1941. Assigned to 38th RS, 19th BG. Plane was one of the planes that arrived over Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941. Transferred to 42nd BS, 11th BG Hickam Dec 30, 1942. Transferred to 5th AF Aug 31,1944." 7 December 1941 The Air Force Story - Appendix D B-17s Arriving During the Attack page 158-159 "B-17E 41-2413 / Crew No. 1: Maj Truman H. Landon, 1st Lt William B. M. Ellis, 2d Lt George L. Newton, 2d Lt Chester H. Budz, Avn Cdt Erwin F. Cihak, MSgt John B. Meeks, TSgt Jesse L. Schneider, SSgt Albert E. Brawley, and Sgt Benjamin L. Hale." Mack Morriss Diary - April 13, 1943 Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 12, 387 Bomber Baron Newsletter Contribute
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