B-17G-1-BO 42-31092
Butch II after a crash landing. Photo captioned indicates: 22 June 44 (1574) Crash Landing B17G 42-31092 HON WS
Some records indicate this aircraft was originally with the 401st Bomb Group at Deenethorpe, and transferred to the 447th shortly after the group’s arrival at Rattlesden, possibly as a replacement for 42-37865, lost over the Atlantic on November 27, 1943.
According to information from Mr. James Ritchie, Group Intelligence Officer, Butch II may have been flown from Harvard to Rattlesden in November 1943. Butch II did lead the group’s first two missions on December 24 and 30, with Col. Hunter Harris at the controls. It remained with the group until written off after a crash landing on April 20, 1945.
Flight listings for 42-31092
This list is NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.”
| 447th Mission (Date) | Target | Pilot | Notes |
| #1 (24-Dec-43) | Droinville, France | Harris, H. | |
| #2 (30-Dec-43) | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Harris, H. | |
| #5 (05-Jan-44) | Merignac, France | Jurnecka, J. E | |
| #19 (13-Feb-44) | Pas de Calais, Marquenville, France | Smith, G. C. | |
| #20 (20-Feb-44) | Rostock, Germany | Widstrom, R. G. | slated 866, 092 was spare |
| #23 (25-Feb-44) | Regensburg, Germany | Donahue, W. D. | slated 227 |
| #25 (29-Feb-44) | Brunswick, Germany | Flemming, D. S. | |
| #27 (04-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | Huckins, W. C. | |
| #28 (06-Mar-44) | Berlin, Germany | LaGasse, V. H. | |
| #32 (13-Mar-44) | Bois de la Justice, France | LaGasse, V. H. | |
| #36 (20-Mar-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | Greenwell, W. R. | |
| #48 (18-Apr-44) | Oranienburg / Rathnow, Germany | Reynolds, W. A. | |
| #49 (19-Apr-44) | Lippstadt / Werl, Germany | Morley, R. E. | |
| #56 (29-Apr-44) | Berlin, Germany | Morley, R. E. | |
| #60 (08-May-44) | Berlin, Germany | Moran, B. | Not disp, Oxy out, could not find formation |
| #61 (09-May-44) | Laon / Athies, France | Harris, H. | |
| #64 (13-May-44) | Osnabruck, Germany | Harris, H. | |
| #71 (27-May-44) | Karlsruhe, Germany | Smith, G. C. | |
| #80 (04-Jun-44) | Versailles, France | Harris, H. | |
| #82 (06-Jun-44) | Caen, France | Hanks, D. J. | |
| #95 (22-Jun-44) | Nucourt, France | Leitch, D. G. | CRASH landed at Honington |
| #149 (26-Sep-44) | Bremen, Germany | Noonan, J. F. | |
| #150 (27-Sep-44) | Ludwigshafen, Germany | Moore, L. W. | |
| #152 (02-Oct-44) | Kassel, Germany | Thomas, M. G. | |
| #156 (07-Oct-44) | Merseburg, Germany | Dean, R. A. | |
| #157 (09-Oct-44) | Gustavsburg, Germany | Russell, J. L. | slated #854 |
Crash landed, written off and salvaged on April 20, 1945.
Undated photo from the album of Lt. Allen Miller; Private Collection of Gregory Pons
Some photos/information provided by:
- Album of Lt. Allen Miller; Private Collection of Gregory Pons
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database