Sir
My father-in-law’s B-17F that he flew with the 815th BS/483rd BG came from 99th BG on exchange for his new “G” model ‘Flak Happy’ that went to the 99th BG.. His aircraft is 42-5418 “Chief Wahoo”
his is from the 5th Wing History of Aircraft Assigned…..
a/c 42-5418 Chief Wahoo 97th BG no Sqdn #. Assigned 20 Jan 43.Transfer
to 99 BG 14 Nov 43; flew 27 missions with 99 BG ; Transfer to 483rd BG 31 Mar 44. MIA Milan 30 Apr 44…. 815 Sq..damaged by flak.and attacked by fighters; two engines out,crashed near Vanette; Hilmer Landholt crew; Daniels; Kleiner; Bowles; Landwehr; Altgelt; Gatch; Conn; Davis ; Goddard. Altgelt, Goddard evade to Switzerland ; Rest POW. (MACR 4612).
A/C 42-32023 Flak Happy 483 BG 815 Sq Original a/c. Transfer to 99 BG 31 Mar 44. To US 19 Jun 47.
A/C 42-32023 Flak Happy transfer from 483 BG 31 MAr 44; flew 87 missions ; copilot Bentley from 483rd BG flew on the 5 apr 44 mission. Eadie and Wood WIA 23 Jun 44; Transfer to depot 5 Feb 45 ; To US 19 Jun 47.
This is from “The Flying Fortress Story” by Roger Freeman and David Osborne.
a/c 42-5418 Del Tulsa 3/2/42; West Palm Beach 9/1/43; ass 97th BG Biskra 20/1/43 ; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43 ; Pont-du-Fahs 1/8/43 ;Depienne 15/6/43 ; tran 99 BG 346BS/99BG Oudna 14/11/43 ; (27m/99) ; 815BS/483BG Tortorella 31/3/44 ; MIA Milan 30/4/44 ; w/Landholt ; flak & e/a ; cr Vanette ; 8POW.2 EVD to Switz. MACR 4612 ; CHIEF WAHOO.
A/C 42-32023 Del Cheyenne 14/1/44 ; Kansas City 1/2/44 ; McDill 5/2/44 ; Morrison 9/3/44 ; ass 815BS/483BG ; Tortorella 12/3/44 ;tran 416BS/99BG 31/3/44 (87m) ;Ret US 121 BU Bradley 6/6/45 ;4104 BU Rome 28/6/45 ;Chanute 12/10/45 ;4168 BU Sth Plains 17/12/45 ;4136 BU Tinker 8/12/46 ; 4104 BU Rome 31/12/45 ; Recl Comp 19/6/47 FLAK HAPPY
undefinedPS: I have a photograph of “Flak Happy” in the 99th as well as an original WW2 cartoon strip featuring “Chief Wahoo” but I don’t know how to upload them. 😀
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