Maybe I’ve missed something, but I’ve noticed that 41-24445 of the 97th Bomb Group is positively identified as Southern Belle in a couple of books and at a number of websites. The aircraft was shot down with Lt Clarence Lipsky and his crew on September 6, 1942.
Are there photos of the wreckage that reveal the name Southern Belle?
When I was working on Pride of Seattle, sources in the 97th Bomb Group stated that 41-24445’s name was Six Bits. I’ve never seen photographic evidence of that either, and in retrospect I shouldn’t have used that name in the book.
Happy New Year to all.
By: Steve Birdsall - 28th December 2011 at 18:33
Another odd thing about this is the fact that Joe Baugher and some others wrongly show the crew of 41-24445 as “10 KIA”. They were taken prisoner, that’s beyond doubt.
Considering that 41-24445 had crossed the Atlantic a scant three weeks before it was shot down, it could have carried either name in either group.
I just don’t know when or where the name Southern Belle was first pinned to this particular B-17.
By: wieesso - 28th December 2011 at 06:55
Joe Baugher lists two “Southern Belle”
Boeing B-17F-10-BO Fortress
41-24445 (97th BG, 340th BS, “Southern Belle“) shot down by Hptm. Karl-Heinz Meyer in Fw 190A-3 of JG 26/II Stab near Flasselles, France Sep 6, 1942 during mission to Avion Portex aircraft factory at Meault, France 10 KIA. First aircraft of 8th AF to be listed as MIA.
Boeing B-17F-65-BO Fortress
42-29694 (379th BG, 527th BS, “Southern Belle“) shot down by Uffz Topp of EprKdo 25 between Delmenhorst and Bremen, Germany Nov 26, 1943. MACR 1577. 6 KIA, 4 POW
and here http://forum.armyairforces.com/m70737-print.aspx
41-24445 (c/n: 3130) Accepted: 3 July 1942 – Boeing Aircraft Co, Seattle, Washington
Delivered: 7 July 1943 – United Airlines / Boeing Modification Center #10 – (Cheyenne Municipal Airport)
Assigned: 1 August 1942 – 2nd AF / 92nd BG / 326th BS – (Dow AAF)
92nd BG original aircraft
Ferried: (Presque Isle – RAF Bovingdon) (Pilot: Lt James M McDonald)
Assigned: August 1942 – 8th AF / 1st BD / 92nd BG / 326th BS – (RAF Bovingdon)
(Six Bits)
Assigned: 24 August 1942 – 8th AF / 1st BD / 97th BG / 340th BS – (RAF Polebrook)
B-17 swap – 97th BG B-17E for 92nd BG B-17F-10
MIA: Sunday, 6 September 1942 @ 1855 hrs
Maybe she was named “Six Bits” while assigned to 92nd BG and “Southern Belle” while assigned to 97th BG ……
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December 28, 2011 at 6:26 am