B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

Good morning Gentlemen,

who was the B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

...I believe it was Felix Hardison, the pilot of Suzy-Q, whose gunners claimed 26 Japanese aircraft destroyed. Did he ever fly another aircraft in combat or did another pilot ever fly a mssion
in Suzy-Q ?

Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

Hardison flew several other B-17s in 1942 from Australia with the 93BS.
41-2640 Tojos Physic
41-2665 Lulu
41-24391 Hoomalimali
41-24384 Snoopy
41-24458 San Antonio Rose
41-2643 -

The 93rd Indian head insignia was painted on in Hawaii on the return to USA.


"Claims to fame" Birdsall / Freeman
Nick

Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

Good evening Nick,

and did he also fly combat missions in these planes ?

Best greetings from Switzerland,

Michael

Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

He flew missions in all these....
41-2640 4 July.
41-2665 30 July.
41-2643 7 August.
41-24391 26 August.
41-24384 29 August.
41-24458 in Sept. ( dates not known).
The 26 Rising Suns were painted on the rear access door, and the name was on both sides. The squadron insignia included a "93" and 3 Iron Crosses.

This is a close-up of the lettering behind the badge. I think you can read them.
"HOEVET FIELD" near the bottom is Mareeba airfield, Australia.



https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/for...56-b17-suzy-q/


Regards
Nick

Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

Good evening Nick,

thanks for the dates. If the USAAF had credited heavy bomber pilots with the kills of their crews, Felix Hardison would have been among the top 10 US all-time-scorers. Or did any other pilot ever fly Suzy-Q in combat ?

Best greetings from Switzerland, sincerely,

Michael

Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

Sorry Michael, I don't know but her first mission was Feb. 9 flown by Lt. Hillhouse from Java; she arrived on the 7th and Hardison flew her on the 12th. In March the 93rd. retired to Australia. As far as I know all 26 were credited to the Hardison crew (?).

If bomber pilots ever had their "own" aircraft this was Hardison's especially as she was named for his wife Priscilla.
The only other "Suzy Q" I can think of was a B24D 41-23817 (44BG), Col. Leon Johnson won the CMH in her at Ploesti.


Regards
Nick

Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

Good afternoon Nick,

there was also a B-26 of that name:
https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-26/40-1391.html

Why was the B-17 named after Hardison's wife when her name was Priscilla?
The song made famous by Creedence Clearwater Revival is originally by Dale Hawkins from 1957:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AtV7NTIt9g

Cheers,

Michael

Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

Hi Michael. The "Suzy-Q" was a dance step from the 1930s, included in novelty dances like the Jitterbug or Lindy Hop; Hardin Armstrong (2nd wife of Louis) performed it in the 1936 song "Doin' the Suzie Q" (note spelling).
Hope this helps
Nick
Thanks for the link.

Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills
 

Hello Nick,

never heard about that Lady or the song before:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1iOUQ_YIYQ
I wonder if this particular song was really the inspiration for all those bomber names, because White people in these days rarely listened to Black music, did they ?

Cheers,

Michael