B-17G-35-DL 42-107215
709th SQ — L
L’il Eight Ball with crew chief M/Sgt Michael Kaschak; 57 missions — around November 1944
(slightly different crops, still choosing which to keep)
B-17G-35-DL, was built by Douglas in Long Beach, delivered to the USAAF on March 21, 1944, and assigned to the 709th Squadron upon its arrival in England on April 25th.
Possible origin of the name as shared by Debby Moore:
Crew chief M/Sgt Mike Kaschak was responsible for naming this Fort. According to his son, Kaschak was walking to the mess hall one morning and a piece of newspaper blew up against his leg. Picking it up, he noted the Lil Eight Ball comic strip printed on it. His B17 had not yet been named so choosing that as its title he got Fingelly, another member of his team, to paint the nose art– based on that popular comic strip character.
“Lil Eight Ball” went on to complete at least 124 missions including another three trips to Berlin (Tales to Noses over Berlin), three to Merseburg (Merseburg: Blood, Flak & Oil), four to Bremen as well as Munich, Regensberg, Kassel, Mainz, Brunswick and Hamburg. In fact virtually every major target in northwest Europe. At least 38 different crews climbed aboard this Fort to go into combat. Lt. Bounds and his crew completed 28 of their missions in this plane between November 44 and April 45. The plane’s record was a remarkable testimony to the skill of Kaschak and his ground crew who maintained the veteran Fort come what may. When the fighting stopped “Lil Eight Ball” was still in the game and it was eventually flown back to the USA, ultimately to be scrapped at South Plains, Texas, in 1946.
Flight listings for 42-107215
These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.
| 447th Mission (Date) |
Target |
Pilot |
Notes |
| #59 (07-May-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Noyd, J. W. |
|
| #60 (08-May-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Noyd, J. W. |
ABORT; Bombardier sick |
| #61 (09-May-44) |
Laon / Athies, France |
Noyd, J. W. |
|
| #62 (11-May-44) |
Malines, Belgium |
Noyd, J. W. |
|
| #65 (19-May-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Noyd, J. W. |
ABORT, lost formation (T/O two times because short one chute |
| #66 (20-May-44) |
Liege, Belgium |
Noyd, J. W. |
|
| #69 (24-May-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Noyd, J. W. |
|
| #70 (25-May-44) |
Brussels, Belgium |
Noyd, J. W. |
|
| #71 (27-May-44) |
Karlsruhe, Germany |
Noyd, J. W. |
|
| #72 (28-May-44) |
Konigsburg, Germany |
Noyd, J. W. |
|
| #74 (30-May-44) |
St. Pol-Siracourt, France |
Noyd, J. W. |
|
| #75 (31-May-44) |
Hamm, Germany |
Fotinakes, D. J. |
spare, ret’d |
| #76 (02-Jun-44) |
Wimereux, France |
Johnson, D. G. |
|
| #80 (04-Jun-44) |
Versailles, France |
Farson, M. W. |
|
| #81 (05-Jun-44) |
Le Touquet, France |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #82 (06-Jun-44) |
Caen, France |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #86 (08-Jun-44) |
Nantes, France |
Zanoya, P. C. |
slated 6003 |
| #86 (08-Jun-44) |
Nantes, France |
Shute, J. E. |
slated #902 |
| #87 (11-Jun-44) |
Le Touquet – Merlimont Plage, France |
Semitekol, W. C. |
|
| #88 (12-Jun-44) |
Conches, France |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #89 (14-Jun-44) |
Florennes, Belgium |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #91 (18-Jun-44) |
Misburg, Germany |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #93 (20-Jun-44) |
Fallerslaben & Koningsborn, Germany |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #94 (21-Jun-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Phillips, J. M. |
|
| #95 (22-Jun-44) |
Nucourt, France |
Otto, H. S. |
|
| #100 (28-Jun-44) |
Denian/Prouvy, France |
Zanoya, P. C. |
|
| #101 (29-Jun-44) |
Bohlen, Germany |
Zanoya, P. C. |
|
| #102 (06-Jul-44) |
Berck, France |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #104 (07-Jul-44) |
Meresburg, Germany |
Miller, G. H. |
|
| #105 (08-Jul-44) |
St.Andre De L’eure / Nogent, France |
Lazzarini, H. |
|
| #106 (11-Jul-44) |
Munich, Germany |
Gormly, R. P. |
|
| #107 (12-Jul-44) |
Munich, Germany |
Kaye, H. C. |
AB Spare |
| #108 (13-Jul-44) |
Munich, Germany |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #109 (14-Jul-44) |
Area 10, France |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #110 (16-Jul-44) |
Stuttgart, Germany |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #111 (18-Jul-44) |
Cuxhaven, Germany |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #112 (19-Jul-44) |
Ebelsbach, Germany |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #114 (21-Jul-44) |
Regensburg, Germany |
Whitney, L. H. |
|
| #119 (02-Aug-44) |
St. Dennis, France |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #120 (04-Aug-44) |
Arras – Ostend, Belgium |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #122 (07-Aug-44) |
Anizy le Chateau, France |
Cook, J. D. |
|
| #123 (08-Aug-44) |
Bretteville sur Laise, France |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #126 (13-Aug-44) |
Seine river area, France |
Hrabovsky, S. J. |
slated 185 |
| #127 (14-Aug-44) |
Mannheim, Germany |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #128 (15-Aug-44) |
Handorf, Germany |
Schimandle, F. J. |
|
| #129 (16-Aug-44) |
Rositz, Germany |
Bloecker, W. R. |
|
| #130 (18-Aug-44) |
St. Dizier, France |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #131 (24-Aug-44) |
Brux, Czechoslovakia |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #132 (25-Aug-44) |
Rechlin, Germany |
Hrabovsky, S. J. |
|
| #133 (26-Aug-44) |
Brest, France |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #134 (27-Aug-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Skalitsky, S. B. |
|
| #135 (30-Aug-44) |
Bremen, Germany |
Craig, D. W. |
|
| #136 (01-Sep-44) |
Mainz, Germany |
Boisson, E. T. |
|
| #139 (08-Sep-44) |
Mainz, Germany |
Boisson, E. T. |
ABORT #2 SC |
| #145 (17-Sep-44) |
Arnheim, Holland |
Boisson, E. T. |
Cameraman |
| #147 (22-Sep-44) |
Kassel, Germany |
Gage, R. W. |
|
| #148 (25-Sep-44) |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Boisson, E. T. |
|
| #149 (26-Sep-44) |
Bremen, Germany |
Hrabovsky, S. J. |
|
| #152 (02-Oct-44) |
Kassel, Germany |
Boisson, E. T. |
|
| #153 (03-Oct-44) |
Giebelstadt, Germany |
Boisson, E. T. |
ABORT #4 Eng out |
| #154 (05-Oct-44) |
Munster, Germany |
Boisson, E. T. |
|
| #156 (07-Oct-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Boisson, E. T. |
ABORT Super out |
| #157 (09-Oct-44) |
Gustavsburg, Germany |
Boisson, E. T. |
|
| #158 (12-Oct-44) |
Bremen, Germany |
Johnson, D. G. |
|
| #160 (15-Oct-44) |
Cologne, Germany |
Quintin, O. J. |
|
| #162 (18-Oct-44) |
Kassel, Germany |
Cooke, J. F. |
ABORT Runaway prop |
| #166 (26-Oct-44) |
Hanover, Germany |
Hrabovsky, S. J. |
|
| #169 (02-Nov-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Cohen, E. |
|
| #170 (04-Nov-44) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Hrabovsky, S. J. |
|
| #171 (05-Nov-44) |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Myers, P. G. |
slated #117 |
| #172 (06-Nov-44) |
Neumunster, Germany |
McMath, R. |
Target of Opp |
| #173 (09-Nov-44) |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Minker, R. L. |
|
| #175 (16-Nov-44) |
Duren, Germany |
Hatfield, B. E. |
Landed at Farmlingham |
| #177 (25-Nov-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
ABORT Oxy failure |
| #178 (26-Nov-44) |
Hamm, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #181 (04-Dec-44) |
Mainz, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #182 (06-Dec-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #183 (10-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Schwab, S. G. |
|
| #184 (11-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #185 (12-Dec-44) |
Darmstadt, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
ABORT Oil leak |
| #186 (15-Dec-44) |
Hannover, Germany |
Summers, C. D. |
|
| #188 (24-Dec-44) |
Babenhausen, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #189 (28-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
Cameraman |
| #190 (30-Dec-44) |
Mannheim, Germany |
Cohen, E. |
|
| #191 (31-Dec-44) |
Wenzendorf, Germany |
Stanley, F. N. |
|
| #192 (01-Jan-45) |
Dollberg, Germany |
Minker, R. L. |
|
| #193 (02-Jan-45) |
Nalbach, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #194 (03-Jan-45) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
ABORT #4 Eng out |
| #199 (10-Jan-45) |
Karlsruhe, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #201 (14-Jan-45) |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #202 (15-Jan-45) |
Augsburg, Germany |
Stanley, F. N. |
|
| #203 (16-Jan-45) |
Dessau, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
Landed at Lindholme |
| #204 (20-Jan-45) |
Heilbronn, Germany |
Stanley, F. N. |
ABORT Runaway prop |
| #206 (29-Jan-45) |
Kassel, Germany |
Coleman, R. |
ABORT |
| #209 (06-Feb-45) |
Chemnitz, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #210 (09-Feb-45) |
Weimar, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #211 (14-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #213 (16-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
Cameraman |
| #214 (19-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Hammond, R. |
|
| #215 (20-Feb-45) |
Nurnberg, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
Leaflets |
| #216 (22-Feb-45) |
Aalen, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #217 (23-Feb-45) |
Crailsheim, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #218 (24-Feb-45) |
Bremen, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #219 (25-Feb-45) |
Neuberg, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #220 (26-Feb-45) |
Berlin, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #221 (27-Feb-45) |
Leipzig, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #224 (03-Mar-45) |
Brunswick, Germany |
Stanley, F. N. |
|
| #225 (07-Mar-45) |
Datteln-Emscher Lippe, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #226 (08-Mar-45) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #227 (09-Mar-45) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #228 (10-Mar-45) |
Dortmund, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #229 (11-Mar-45) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #230 (12-Mar-45) |
Marburg, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #231 (14-Mar-45) |
Hannover, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #232 (15-Mar-45) |
Oranienburg, Germany |
Bounds, M. S. |
|
| #234 (18-Mar-45) |
Berlin, Germany |
Coleman, R. |
|
| #235 (19-Mar-45) |
Zwickau, Germany |
Dewey, R. J. |
|
| #236 (20-Mar-45) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #237 (21-Mar-45) |
Wittmundhafen, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #238 (22-Mar-45) |
Heibert, Germany area |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #239 (23-Mar-45) |
Holzwickede, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #240 (24-Mar-45) |
Varrelsbusch, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #241 (28-Mar-45) |
Hannover, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
Camera |
| #243 (31-Mar-45) |
Salzwedel, Germany |
Dreyer, N. T. |
|
| #244 (03-Apr-45) |
Kiel, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #245 (04-Apr-45) |
Kiel, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #246 (05-Apr-45) |
Nuremberg, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #249 (09-Apr-45) |
Neuburg, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #250 (10-Apr-45) |
Brandenburg, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #251 (11-Apr-45) |
Ingolstadt, Germany |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #252 (14-Apr-45) |
Royan, France |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #253 (15-Apr-45) |
Royan, France |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #254 (16-Apr-45) |
Royan, France |
Lehner, F. E. |
|
| #257 (20-Apr-45) |
Neuruppin, Germany |
Golden, W. J. |
|
| #258 (21-Apr-45) |
Inglostadt, [Germany] |
Boroughs, S. L. |
|
100 Missions
Li’l Eight Ball completed its combat tour and returned to the US in July 1945. It was scrapped, possibly at Walnut Ridge, in 1946.
The Frank E. Lehner crew with 42-107215 (showing 119 mission marks at the time)
Combat Missions (compiled previously)
One of the 447th’s “Century Ships,” Li’l Eight Ball is credited with 123 combat missions. From available records, we’ve identified 119, shown below. (Compilation by Rob Kirkwood)
| No |
DATE |
TARGET |
PILOT |
| 1 |
05/07/44 |
BERLIN |
Noyd |
| 2 |
05/09/44 |
LAON/ATHIES A/D |
Noyd |
| 3 |
05/20/44 |
LIEGE |
Noyd |
| 4 |
05/24/44 |
BERLIN |
Noyd |
| 5 |
05/25/44 |
BRUSSELS |
Noyd |
| 6 |
05/27/44 |
KARLSRUHE |
Noyd |
| 7 |
05/28/44 |
KONISBURG |
Noyd |
| 8 |
05/30/44 |
ST. POL SIRACOURT |
Noyd |
| 9 |
06/04/44 |
WISSANT |
Farson |
| 10 |
06/05/44 |
LE TOUQUET |
Cook |
| 11 |
06/06/44 |
D-DAY TARGETS NORTH FRANCE |
Cook |
| 12 |
06/08/44 |
NANTES |
Zanoya |
| 13 |
06/12/44 |
CONCHES A/F |
Cook |
| 14 |
06/14/44 |
FLORENNES/JUZAINE A/F |
Cook |
| 15 |
06/18/44 |
MISBURG |
Cook |
| 16 |
06/20/44 |
FALLERSLABEN KONINGSBORN |
Cook |
| 17 |
06/21/44 |
BERLIN |
J.W. Phillips |
| 18 |
06/28/44 |
DENIAN-PROUVY |
Zanoya |
| 19 |
06/29/44 |
BOHLEN |
Zanoya |
| 20 |
07/06/44 |
BERCK A/F |
Kaye |
| 21 |
07/08/44 |
ST. ANDRE DE L’EURE / NOGENT M/Y |
Lazzarini |
| 22 |
07/11/44 |
MUNICH |
Gormley |
| 23 |
07/13/44 |
MUNICH |
Kaye |
| 24 |
07/14/44 |
AREA 10, CADILLAC |
Kaye |
| 25 |
07/16/44 |
STUTTGART |
Kaye |
| 26 |
07/18/44 |
CUXHAVEN |
Kaye |
| 27 |
07/19/44 |
EBELSBACH |
Cook |
| 28 |
07/21/44 |
REGENSBURG |
Whitney |
| 29 |
08/02/44 |
ST. DENNIS |
Cook |
| 30 |
08/04/44 |
ARRAS-OSTEND |
Cook |
| 31 |
08/07/44 |
ANIZY LE CHATEAU |
Cook |
| 32 |
08/08/44 |
BRETTEVILLE |
Kaye |
| 33 |
08/13/44 |
SEINE R. AREA |
Hrabvosky |
| 34 |
08/14/44 |
MANNHEIM |
Kaye |
| 35 |
08/15/44 |
HANDORF A/F |
Schimandle |
| 36 |
08/16/44 |
ROSITZ |
Bloecker |
| 37 |
08/18/44 |
ST. DIZIER A/F |
Kaye |
| 38 |
08/24/44 |
BRUX |
Kaye |
| 39 |
08/25/44 |
RECHLIN |
Hrabvosky |
| 40 |
08/26/44 |
BREST |
Kaye |
| 41 |
08/28/44 |
BERLIN |
Skalitsky |
| 42 |
08/31/44 |
BREMEN |
Craig |
| 43 |
09/01/44 |
MAINZ |
Boisson |
| 44 |
09/08/44 |
MAINZ |
Boisson |
| 45 |
09/17/44 |
ARNHEIM |
Boisson |
| 46 |
09/22/44 |
KASSEL |
Gage |
| 47 |
09/25/44 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
Boisson |
| 48 |
09/26/44 |
BREMEN |
Hrabvosky |
| 49 |
10/02/44 |
KASSEL |
Boisson |
| 50 |
10/05/44 |
MUNSTER A/F |
Boisson |
| 51 |
10/09/44 |
GUSTAVSBURG |
Boisson |
| 52 |
10/12/44 |
BREMEN |
D.G. Johnson |
| 53 |
10/14/44 |
COLOGNE |
Quintin |
| 54 |
10/26/44 |
HANOVER |
Hrabvosky |
| 55 |
11/02/44 |
MERSEBURG |
Cohen |
| 56 |
11/04/44 |
HAMBURG |
Hrabvosky |
| 57 |
11/05/44 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
Myers |
| 58 |
11/06/44 |
NEUMUNSTER |
McMath |
| 59 |
11/09/44 |
SAARBRUCKEN |
Minker |
| 60 |
11/25/44 |
MERSEBURG |
Bounds |
| 61 |
11/26/44 |
HAMM |
Bounds |
| 62 |
12/04/44 |
MAINZ |
Bounds |
| 63 |
12/06/44 |
MERSEBURG |
Bounds |
| 64 |
12/10/44 |
KOBLENZ |
Schwab |
| 65 |
12/11/44 |
KOBLENZ GIESSEN |
Bounds |
| 66 |
12/15/44 |
HANOVER |
Summers |
| 67 |
12/24/44 |
BABENHAUSEN |
Bounds |
| 68 |
12/28/44 |
KOBLENZ |
Bounds |
| 69 |
12/30/44 |
MANNHEIM |
Cohen |
| 70 |
12/31/44 |
COGNAC |
Stanley |
| 71 |
01/01/45 |
DOLLBERGEN |
Minker |
| 72 |
01/02/45 |
NALBACH- |
Bounds |
| 73 |
01/10/45 |
KARLSRUHE |
Bounds |
| 74 |
01/14/45 |
MADGEBURG |
Bounds |
| 75 |
01/15/45 |
AUGSBURG |
F. Stanley |
| 76 |
01/16/45 |
DESSAU |
Bounds |
| 77 |
01/29/45 |
KASSEL |
Coleman |
| 78 |
02/07/45 |
CHEMNITZ |
Bounds |
| 79 |
02/09/45 |
WEIMAR |
Bounds |
| 80 |
02/14/45 |
WESEL |
Bounds |
| 81 |
02/16/45 |
WESEL & RHEINE |
Bounds |
| 82 |
02/18/45 |
WESEL |
Hammond |
| 83 |
02/20/45 |
NURNBERG |
Horton |
| 84 |
02/22/45 |
AALEN |
Bounds |
| 85 |
02/23/45 |
CRAILSHEIM |
Bounds |
| 86 |
02/24/45 |
BREMEN |
Bounds |
| 87 |
02/25/45 |
NEUBERG |
Bounds |
| 88 |
02/26/45 |
BERLIN |
Bounds |
| 89 |
02/27/45 |
LEIPZIG |
Bounds |
| 90 |
03/03/45 |
BRUNSWICK |
Stanley |
| 91 |
03/07/45 |
DATTELN |
Bounds |
| 92 |
03/08/45 |
FRANKFURT |
Bounds |
| 93 |
03/09/45 |
FRANKFURT |
Bounds |
| 94 |
03/10/45 |
DORTMUND |
Lehner |
| 95 |
03/11/45 |
HAMBURG |
Bounds |
| 96 |
03/12/45 |
MARBURG |
Bounds |
| 97 |
03/13/45 |
HANOVER |
Bounds |
| 98 |
03/15/45 |
ORANIENBURG |
Bounds |
| 99 |
03/18/45 |
BERLIN |
Coleman |
| 100 |
03/19/45 |
ZWICKAU |
Dewey |
| 101 |
03/20/45 |
HAMBURG |
Lehner |
| 102 |
03/21/45 |
WITTMUNDHAFEN |
Lehner |
| 103 |
03/22/45 |
HELBERT AREA |
Lehner |
| 104 |
03/23/45 |
HOLZWICKEDE |
Lehner |
| 105 |
03/24/45 |
VARRELBUSCH A/F |
Lehner |
| 106 |
03/28/45 |
HANOVER |
Lehner |
| 107 |
03/31/45 |
BRANDENBURG |
Dreyer |
| 108 |
04/03/45 |
KIEL |
Lehner |
| 109 |
04/04/45 |
KIEL |
Lehner |
| 110 |
04/05/45 |
NURNBERG |
Lehner |
| 111 |
04/09/45 |
NEWBURG A/F |
Lehner |
| 112 |
04/10/45 |
BRANDENBURG |
Lehner |
| 113 |
04/11/45 |
INGLOSTADT |
Lehner |
| 114 |
04/14/45 |
ROYAN AREA |
Lehner |
| 115 |
04/15/45 |
ROYAN AREA |
Lehner |
| 116 |
04/16/45 |
ROYAN AREA |
Lehner |
| 117 |
04/19/45 |
DRESDEN |
Bricker |
| 118 |
04/20/45 |
NEURUPPIN |
Golden |
| 119 |
04/21/45 |
INGLOSTADT |
Boroughs |
Some photos/information provided by:
- Mr. Rob Kirkwood
- Mr. Lars Schjøring Knudsen
- Debby Moore
