Civilians inspect a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (MS-T, serial number 42-3217) of the 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group. Handwritten on accompanying slide casing: '381st BG. B-17, 4686 DM.' Show caption About this image

Delivered Cheyenne 30/3/43; Dow 23/5/43; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-T] Ridgewell 24/5/43 with Osce Jones, Seth Armstead, Leon Spivey, Chas Nevius, Jim Haynie, Joe Nicatra, Alf Haugen, Chas Newcomb, Shannon Early, Maurice Kelleher.

On returning from mission to St Nazaire on 28 June 1943, a liferaft broke loose and caught round the tail fin, and with aircraft spiralling down out of control Lt Melvin Hecker was able to tie the raft’s lines to a waist gun, and using the gun as a lever, prised the raft loose and enabled the pilot to get the ship under control again.

Not too soon, as two German fighters swept in to attack the stricken ship, but they were both shot down and the Rebel headed home OK.

Missing in Action 6m Heroya 24/7/43 with Osce V. Jones, Co-pilot: George McIntosh, Navigator: Art Guertin, Bombardier: Chas Nevius, Radio Operator: Jim Haynie, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Nicatra, Ball turret gunner: Chas Newcomb, Waist gunner: Alf Haugen, Waist gunner: Shannon Early,Tail gunner: Maurice Kelleher (10 Interned);

Flak hits damaged #2 and 3 along with a fuel leak, force landed Vannacka, Sweden, but later freed. The aircraft suffered only slight damage and eventually moved to Satenas, where it became a source for spares when other B-17s arrived.

Missing Air Crew Report 132. This was the first US bomber to land in Sweden in WWII. GEORGIA REBEL.

Service

Units 381st Bomb Group Group

The 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and...

535th Bomb Squadron Squadron

People Shannon Early Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group

LWG, Jones Crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Damaged July 24, 1943 in B-17 #42-3217 "Georgia Rebel" and crashed in Vannacka, Sweden. Mission #11 to the chemical factories (Magnesium, Aluminum) in Heroya, Sweden. Hit by flak, #2 engine feathered and...

Shannon Farly Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group

On 24 July 1943, B-17 #423217 'Georgia Rebel' crashed in Sweden. Interned.

Arthur Guertin Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 381st Bomb Group

Navigator, Jones crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. On 24 July 1943, B-17 #42-3217 "Georgia Rebel" crashed in Vannacka, Sweden. Mission #11 to the chemical factories (Magnesium, Aluminum) in Heroya, Norway. MACR 132. Hit by flak, bombs dropped, #2...

Alfred Haugen Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group

RWG, Jones Crew, 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Damaged July 24, 1943 in B-17 #42-3217 "Georgia Rebel" and crashed in Vannacka, Sweden. Mission #11 to the chemical factories (Magnesium, Aluminum) at Heroya, Norway. MACR 132. Hit by flak, bombs dropped, #2...

James Haynie Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer | 381st Bomb Group

ETTG, Jones Crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. On 24 July 1943, B-17 #42-3217 "Georgia Rebel" crashed in Vannacka, Sweden. Mission 311 to the chemical factories (Magnesium, Aluminum) in Heroya, Norway. MACR 132. Hit by flak, bombs dropped, #2 engine...

Osce Jones Military | Captain | Pilot | 381st Bomb Group

Pilot, Jones Crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. On 24 July 1943, B-17 #42-3217 "Georgia Rebel" crashed in Sweden. Mission #11 to the chemical works (Magnesium, Aluminum) at Heroya, Norway. Hit by flak, dropped bombs, #2 engine feathered and prop bent,...

Maurice Kelleher Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 381st Bomb Group

TG, Jones crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. On 24 July 1943, B-17 #42-3217 "Georgia Rebel" crashed in Vannacka, Sweden. Mission #11 to the chemical factories (Magnesium, Aluminum) at Heroya, Norway. MACR 132. Hit by flak, bombs dropped, #2 engine...

George McIntosh Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot, Co-Pilot | 381st Bomb Group

Co-pilot, Jones Crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Operations Officer for 535th BS. On 24 July 1943, B-17 #42-3217 "Georgia Rebel" crashed in Sweden. Mission #11 to the chemical works (Magnesium, Aluminum) in Heroya, Norway. MACR 132. Hit by flak,...

Charles Nevius Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 381st Bomb Group

Bombardier, Jones Crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. On 24 July 1943, B-17 #42-3217 "Georgia Rebel" crashed in Vannacka, Sweden. Mission #11 to the chemical factories (Magnesium, Aluminum) at Heroya, Norway. MACR 132. Hit by flak, bombs dropped, #2...

Charles Newcomb Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 381st Bomb Group

BTG, Jones, O. Crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF. Damaged on July 24, 1943 iin B-17 #42-3217 "Georgia Rebel" and crashed in Vannacka, Sweden. Mission #11 to the chemical factories (Magnesium, Aluminum) in Heroya, Norway. MACR 132. Hit by flak, bombs... Show more

Missions VIII Bomber Command 75 24 July 1943

Three targets in Norway are the primary targets for this first mission flown by 8th AIr Force to Norway. They are the nitrate works at Heroya and the port areas at Trondheim and Bergen. The first element is a combined force of 180 B-17s from: 91BG (22)...

Places Ridgewell Military site : airfield

Built during 1941-42 as an RAF bomber station, Ridgewell operated as a satellite to RAF Stradishall until May 1943. It had three concrete runways, initially 36 pan hardstandings, and two dispersed T2 hangars. Taken over by the Eighth Air Force in June...

Events