42-107215 L’IL EIGHT BALL

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