Re: Which 5 b-17s of 323 BS take off on 4 feb 1943. Hamm Raid.
 

Hi,

323 Squadron
41-24589 Texas Bronco Lt. Eugene B. Ellis Crasht op Terschelling
41-24544 Pennsylvania Polka Lt. Alan T. Bobrow Crasht in de Noordzee
42-5225 Stormy Weather Capt. Bishop Hydraulics shot out. Crash landing at Bassingbourne when its comming back from mission.
42-5077 Delta Rebel no 2 Lt. Birdsong's
41-24549 Stupen-Taket Lt. McCarty's

I think we are close now.

For the 323rd BS.
41-24544, "OR-O" 7+ missions.
41-24549, "OR-Q" 14 missions.
41-24589, "OR-R" 6+ missions.

However, Lt. Birdsong was in "Delta Rebel No 2" (42-5077, "OR-T") when shortly after take off IIRC an engine went out. He returned to base and the crew changed to a spare a/c "Stormy Weather" (42-5225, "OR-S") and continued with the mission in this a/c which it seems crash landed on return from opps.
So, Bishop must have been in another a/c, not "Stormy Weather" (42-5225).

Alex

Re: Which 5 b-17s of 323 BS take off on 4 feb 1943. Hamm Raid.
 

The switch took place on March 4, 1942, not February 4, 1943 ....http://www.91stbombgroup.com/91st_ta...mmassacre.html

Re: Which 5 b-17s of 323 BS take off on 4 feb 1943. Hamm Raid.
 

Hi,
you are correct, the Birdsong switch looks to have taken place on the Hamm Mission on the 4th March 1943 and not on the Hamm mission on the 4th February 1943.
91 BG a/c lost were 41-24464; 41-24512; 41-24549 and 42-5370.
Well done
Alex

Re: Which 5 b-17s of 323 BS take off on 4 feb 1943. Hamm Raid.
 

21-24139
Capt. Barton Fishburne

This was actually Chief Sly II, Capt Bruce D Barton as aircraft commander, Major Paul Fishbourne was mission commander. Chief Sly II was lead aircraft.
My uncle R.L. Hare was flight engineer/ top turrent gunner on Bartons crew.

Re: Which 5 b-17s of 323 BS take off on 4 feb 1943. Hamm Raid.
 

There seems to still be some confusion here. The serial number of the first Chief Sly was 41-24439 and it was salvaged for parts after the December 20, 1942 Romilly mission. Chief Sly II was 42-5139. Those were 322nd Squadron aircraft, not 323rd.

Paul C. Burnett, the 91st Bomb Group association historian and "Ragged Irregular" editor, was on Bruce Barton's crew.