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

[Alex Smart]

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