Grafton Underwood, England (Station 106) 1943-1945
Combat History of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in WWII
384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
"Keep The Show On The Road"
| Serial Number: | 42-5051 |
| Name: | BARREL HOUSE BESSIE |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-30-BO, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 544th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 544th‑SU*M |
| Ground Crew Chief: | Hoggatt, John Robert |
| Start Date: | 26 July 1943. New Replacement AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 12 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 26 November 1943. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 1579⇓ (30.215 MB) 'Valor: The Saga of Barrel House Bessie' in Air Force Magazine⇗ |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-5051 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-5051 Delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming [for modification] on 9 September 1942. Moved to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine on 6 November 1942. Assigned to the 303rd Bombardment Group at Molesworth, Station 107, UK in November 1942 Transferred to the 366th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code KY*M, 305th Bombardment Group at Chelveston, Station 105 in November 1942. Transferred to the 544th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code SU*M, 384th Bombardment Group at Grafton Underwood, Station 106 on 26 July 1943. Missing in Action returning from a mission to Bremen on 26 November 1943. Pilot William Featherston Gilmore, Copilot Donald S. Morrison, Navigator Floyd Henry Ohlson, Bombardier Earl C. Mason, Radio Operator Nathan Striesfeld, Ball Turret Gunner Donald L. Engwer, Waist Gunner Joseph E. Burger, seven Returned to Duty (7 RTD); Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Maurice V. Henry, Waist Gunner James F. Bucher and Tail Gunner Albert M. Schamber were Killed in Action (3 KIA). The aircraft was damaged by flak and ditched in the North Sea off the United Kingdom. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 1579. Aircraft name: BARREL HOUSE BESSIE. |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12⇗ | 29 July 1943 | Target: Naval Base Type: Military Location: Kiel, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back almost immediately because of leak in oxygen system. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 13⇗ | 30 July 1943 | Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 15⇗ | 15 August 1943 | Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France | Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused | |
| 16⇗ | 16 August 1943 | Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 17⇗ | 17 August 1943 | Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 19 August 1943 | Gilze-Rijn, Holland, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Composite Sq Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 24 August 1943 | Diversion (Non-Combat) | Returned To Base | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 18⇗ | 27 August 1943 | Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Watten, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 2 September 1943 | Vannes, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 23⇗ | 9 September 1943 | Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Lille-Vendeville, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back due to a blown spark plug. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 21 September 1943 | Riems, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Air Sea Rescue Ship Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 25⇗ | 23 September 1943 | Target: Submarine Repair Ship Type: Submarine Facility Location: Nantes, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 26 September 1943 | Nantes, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 26⇗ | 27 September 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 27⇗ | 2 October 1943 | Target: Port Facilities Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 28⇗ | 4 October 1943 | Type: Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Completed Mission | Landed away at Boxted due to low fuel. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 33⇗ | 20 October 1943 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Düren, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 34⇗ | 3 November 1943 | Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 35⇗ | 5 November 1943 | Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 11 November 1943 | Wesel, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| --⇗ | 13 November 1943 | Bremen, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 36⇗ | 16 November 1943 | Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine Type: Industry Location: Knaben, Norway | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 37⇗ | 26 November 1943 | Target: City Center Type: Non-Military Location: Bremen, Germany | Failed To Return: Ditched | Damaged by flak, ditched in the North Sea near the English coast, with most of the crew rescued; MACR 1579; T/Sgt. Maurice Henry awarded posthumous Distinguished Service Cross, Owens p.195; Maj. William Gilmore awarded Silver Star, Owens p. 198. Sortie Report ⇗ |