Paul Bellamy
5/21/2011 12:52:24 PM | Working through the microfilm files at the moment, cross-checking PFF ship serials, when this entry caught my eye:
Note the Mickey operator (M/O) and Gee-H (G-H) Operator in the crew list.
The aircraft serial is given as 43-38707, which was a B-17 assigned to the 457th Bomb Group and flew with them on that day, so not a "loaner".
Supposing a transposition of numbers, the closest 401BG aircraft would be 43-38077, IY-Q Tagalong.
Checking the Hayes Crew list HERE that supposition seems to fit.
However, cross-checking the relevant 401BG Mission page HERE throws up a contradiction, as the Salisbury Crew is also listed as flying the same aircraft on that mission.
43-38077 was also a non-PFF equipped aircraft, transferred out of the 615th at the end of February 1945.
I suspect the loading list was originally compiled from a list which only used the last three digits of the aircraft serial number.
44-8707 therefore becomes the most likely suspect, and was indeed fitted with both PFF and GEE-H. Hayes and his crew flew her only two days before too.
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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Paul Bellamy
5/22/2011 9:45:11 AM | Oh joy, more record contradictions on this issue...
The mission loading lists for this day show the Salisbury crew on A/C 077 all right, but 42-102077 rather than 43-38077.
The formation diagram further confuses the issue, showing Salisbury flying IW-H '8077.
Mystery B-17G 42-102077 is being a bit tricky to track down.
She's not to be found in the Monthly Inventories, which is to be expected as no such serial number existed, B-17 or otherwise, as it was part of a cancelled contract and not assigned to any aircraft.
Having said that, she is listed in Vic's Squadron Histories and the original 614th Load Lists as flying with the 614th on a number of missions:
Mission 236, 23rd March 1945: C. I. Park & Crew
Mission 236, 24th March 1945: T. E. Salisbury & Crew
Mission 238, 28th March 1945: S. Scimeca & Crew
Mission 239: 30th March 1945: S. Scimeca & Crew
Mission 240, 31st March 1945: S. Scimeca & Crew
Mission 244, 8th April 1945: S. Scimeca & Crew
Mission 246, 10th April 1945: C. W. Short & Crew
Mission 248, 14th April 1945: E.A. Viehman & Crew
Mission 249, 15th April 1945: O.L. Yeargan & Crew
Mission 250, 16th April 1945: S.R. Friedsam & Crew
Mission 251, 17th April 1945: F. Dobson & Crew
Mission 253, 19th April 1945: S.R. Friedsam & Crew
Mission 254, 20th April 1945: R.E. Nowlin & Crew
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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