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| USAAF 5th AF 54th TCW 375th TCG Former Assignments 43rd BG 64th BS 65th BS 19th BG 30th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2662. Ferried overseas via Hawaii to Australia. On May 21, 1942 arrives Charleville Airfield. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS) to pilot Lt. Donald Graham. Later based at Mareeba Airfield. On July 19, 1942 flown to Garbutt Field and assigned to pilot Lt. James Cables. Nicknamed "Spawn of Hell" inside a single quotation mark on the right side of the nose in a cursive font with a outline. On the left side of the nose was the nose art of a nude baby demon with horns and pink skin holding a Thompson submachine gun cradled in one arm with the other hand on his chin with legs crossed. On August 7, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Lt. Curtis Holdridge as one of thirteen B-17s on a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. The crew included: Lt. Hiram Messmore, Lt. John Crockett, SSgt Stanley Jackola, Sgt. Victor Lorber, Sgt Henry Buller, J. W. Hanns and tail gunner Sgt Vernon O. Elder. On August 24, 1942 gunner aboard B-17E "Spawn of Hell" 41-2662 pilot Captain Robert L. Williams on a low altitude night bombing mission over Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul around midnight and returned to land in the early morning hours of August 25, 1942. During September 1942, flown by pilot Captain Cecil C. Knudson with navigator Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Pilot Officer Alan J. Esler. On November 7, 1942 transferred to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS). Assigned to pilot Evans with crew chief Melco and retained the "Spawn of Hell" nickname and nose art. Often flown by pilot Lt. Henry Evans, Roger Kettleson and ball turret gunner Edwin "Lucky" P. Stevens. On November 15, 1942 took off piloted by Lt. William Comptorr as one of five B-17s on a bombing mission against Rabaul. Returning, the B-17 ran low on fuel and landed wheels down at Batumata Point roughly halfway between Port Moresby and Milne Bay. Afterwards, a pair of RAAF Tiger Moths spotted and reported the downed bomber. While awaiting help, the crew spent a week living with the local villagers until an Australian coastwatcher arrived with fuel, allowing the B-17 to take off from the beach and returned at 7 Mile Drome. On February 24, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Captain Raymond E. "Ray" Holsey as one of seven B-17s on a bombing mission against Japanese ships in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. On the bomb run, a bomb prematurely detonated midair and damaged a wing but managed to land safely at Mile Drome. Afterwards, the damaged wing quickly replaced. On March 2, 1943 during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Captain Raymond E. "Ray" Holsey on a bombing mission against Japanese ships. At 10:45am while on the bomb run, hit by anti-aircraft fire with two of the crew wounded by shrapnel and caused a hydraulic system fire that eventually caused flames to extend beyond the tail that was extinguished but burned the rear fuselage but managed to land safely at 7 Mile Drome. On May 31, 1943 transferred to the 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS). That same day took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Henry W. Evans with observer Captain Ealon S. Hocutt (C.O. 64th BS) on a patrol over the north coast of New Guinea and New Britain. Flying between Wewak to Lae, intercepted by "Zeros" actually, Ki-43 Oscars from 1st Sentai and 11th Sentai at 13,000'. Hit by gunfire that damaged the no. 3 engine and hit the hydraulics system and disabled the lower turret. To lighten the bomber, the bomb load and bomb bay fuel tank were jettisoned. A second attack disabled the top turret and were hit in the engines. The gunners claimed five fighters shot down. In fact, none were lost. Aboard, five of the crew sustained minor wounds. Damaged, this B-17 landed at Dobodura Airfield. Afterwards, repaired and continued flying combat missions. During late September 1943 transfered to the 54th Troop Carrier Wing (54th TCW) as the squadron converted to B-24D Liberators. During early November 1943, one of twelve B-17s converted into an armed transport at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field. During the overhaul repainted with olive drab paint. In early December 1943 assigned to the 375th Troop Carrier Group (375th TCG) and operated from Port Moresby and Nadzab Airfield. Possibly, nicknamed "Caroline". On March 1, 1944 took off from Finschafen Airfield as one of four B-17 armed transports including this aircraft plus B-17F "'G.I. Jr." 41-24420, B-17F "Harry the Horse" 41-24548 and another B-17 on a mission to make supply runs to drop weapons, ammunition, barbed wire and blood plasma to the U.S. Army 1st Calvary Division soldiers that landed on Los Negros Island and to strafe enemy positions at Momote Airfield. Afterwards, flown back across the Pacific to the United States. During June 1945 at Ontario Airfield in California. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References Possibly, this B-17 was nicknamed "Caroline" in service with the 54th Troop Carrier Wing (54th TCW) WW2 Nominal Roll - Alan John Esler, O35066 (408645) On Wings We Conquer (1990) page 183 Beau's, Butchers & Boomerangs Mareeba - Mareeba (2003) includes a photo of this B-17 Echoes From an Eagle (2016) pages 53-54 Oz @ War - Cap' & The Kids mentions 41-2662 Ken's Men Against The Empire: The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2016) pages 82 (November 15, 1942, photo), 131-132 (February 24, 1942), 134-137 (March 2, 1942), 137 (photo), 196-198 (May 31, 1943), 215 (Profile 2), 221 (Profile 2 detail), 305 (transfer to 54th TCW), 326 (64th BS, 41-2662), 329 (65th BS, 41-2662), 340 (nose art), 343 (nickname), 350-351 (Profile d Description 41-2662), 403 (index Spawn of Hell) Ken's Men Against The Empire: The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2020) pages 82 (November 15, 1942, photo), 136 (February 24, 1942), 139-143 (March 2, 1943), 142 (photo), 204-206 (May 31, 1943), 215 (Profile 2), 221 (Profile 2a detail), 314 (transfer), 335 (64th BS, 41-2662), 338 (65th BS, 41-2662), 349 (photo), 352 (nickname), 359-360 (Profile 2 description), 412 (index Spawn of Hell) Thanks Steve Birdsall, Edward Rogers, Ken Bledsoe (son of Vernon O. Elder) and Janice Olson for additional information Contribute
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