42-31095 GROUND POUNDER

B-17G-1-BO 42-31095

708th SQ — F

Another of the Harvard planes, ferried to Rattlesden in late November 1943.

On board were:

Major Frank M. Newman Sq Commander
2nd Lt Charles S. Hopla  Pilot
1st Lt Richard W. Fiero Navigator
1st Lt Charles S. Logan Jr. Bombardier
2nd Lt Frederick A. Mason Engineering O.
2nd Lt Lester R. Hofwolt  Bombsight O.
T/Sgt Edward V. Reed  Sq Inspector
T/Sgt Ignacio W. Garcia Sq Comm Chief
Sgt Ralph N. Allen Armament Chief
Sgt Edward (NMI) Stein  Gp Opns Clerk

 

Ground Pounder flew with the 708th Squadron from the beginning of operations in December 1943. She was badly damaged on the April 29 1944 raid to Berlin, but returned to base and was repaired (Operational Charts in the Pictorial History show the aircraft lost on that date). She continued to fly until October 2, 1944 when Lt. Zalewski made a forced landing on the continent, behind Allied lines near Brussels.  The entire Zalewski crew returned to Rattlesden a few days later. 

 

Flight listings for 42-31095

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
#4 (04-Jan-44) Kiel, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#7 (11-Jan-44) Brunswick, Germany Reed, A. S. Ret’d, hot attack
#11 (29-Jan-44) Frankfurt, Germany Hopla, C. S. ABORT #1 Eng Oil
#12 (30-Jan-44) Brunswick, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#13 (03-Feb-44) Wilhelmshaven, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#14 (04-Feb-44) Frankfurt, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#20 (20-Feb-44) Rostock, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#21 (21-Feb-44) Diepholz, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#26 (03-Mar-44) Berlin, Germany Widstrom, R. G.  
#28 (06-Mar-44) Berlin, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#31 (11-Mar-44) Munster, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#32 (13-Mar-44) Bois de la Justice, France Hopla, C. S.  
#33 (15-Mar-44) Brunswick, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#35 (18-Mar-44) Munich, Germany Hitchcock, W. H.  
#43 (08-Apr-44) Rheine, Germany Pauling, H. S.  
#44 (09-Apr-44) Warnemunde, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#45 (10-Apr-44) Diest Schaffen, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#48 (18-Apr-44) Oranienburg / Rathnow, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#49 (19-Apr-44) Lippstadt / Werl, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#50 (20-Apr-44) Cherbourg / Bois de la Justice, France Hopla, C. S.  
#51 (22-Apr-44) Hamm, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#53 (26-Apr-44) Brunswick, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#57 (30-Apr-44) Clermont Ferrand, France Hendel, J. N.  
#58 (01-May-44) Marquenville, France Rozmus, H. A.  
#59 (07-May-44) Berlin, Germany Hopla, C. S.  
#61 (09-May-44) Laon / Athies, France Hopla, C. S.  
#62 (11-May-44) Malines, Belgium Hopla, C. S.  
#68 (23-May-44) Troyes, France Peters, D. K.  
#70 (25-May-44) Brussels, Belgium De Haas, J.  
#78 (03-Jun-44) Pas de Calais / Audresselles, France Wiegerink, L. T.  
#81 (05-Jun-44) Le Touquet, France Wiegerink, L. T.  
#82 (06-Jun-44) Caen, France Wiegerink, L. T.  
#85 (07-Jun-44) Nantes, France Golden, M. L. Landed at Gravesden
#89 (14-Jun-44) Florennes, Belgium Wiegerink, L. T. Spare/filled in
#98 (24-Jun-44) Blanc Pignon Ferme, France Douglas, W. B. AB Spare
#105 (08-Jul-44) St.Andre De L’eure / Nogent, France Quintin, O. J. slated 185
#106 (11-Jul-44) Munich, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#113 (20-Jul-44) Merseburg, Germany Lakeman, L. F. AB Spare
#114 (21-Jul-44) Regensburg, Germany Thorpe, T. G. AB Spare
#115 (24-Jul-44) St. Lo, France Zalewski, T.  
#116 (25-Jul-44) St. Lo, France Zalewski, T.  
#117 (27-Jul-44) Ostend, Belgium Zalewski, T.  
#120 (04-Aug-44) Arras – Ostend, Belgium Zalewski, T.  
#122 (07-Aug-44) Anizy le Chateau, France Zalewski, T.  
#123 (08-Aug-44) Bretteville sur Laise, France Noonan, J. F.  
#126 (13-Aug-44) Seine river area, France Westrope, R. A.  
#127 (14-Aug-44) Mannheim, Germany Adams, J. M.  
#128 (15-Aug-44) Handorf, Germany Zalewski, T.  
#131 (24-Aug-44) Brux, Czechoslovakia Zalewski, T.  
#132 (25-Aug-44) Rechlin, Germany Hawkins, R. D.  
#133 (26-Aug-44) Brest, France Zalewski, T.  
#135 (30-Aug-44) Bremen, Germany Zalewski, T.  
#137 (03-Sep-44) Brest, France Thorpe, T. G.  
#138 (05-Sep-44) Brest, France Thorpe, T. G.  
#139 (08-Sep-44) Mainz, Germany Zalewski, T.  
#142 (11-Sep-44) Fulda, Germany Zalewski, T.  
#143 (12-Sep-44) Bohlen & Fulda, Germany Hysong, J. W.  
#145 (17-Sep-44) Arnheim, Holland Hysong, J. W. ABORT Oil leak
#146 (19-Sep-44) Koblenz, Germany Thomas, M. G.  
#147 (22-Sep-44) Kassel, Germany Zalewski, T.  
#148 (25-Sep-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany Zalewski, T.  
#149 (26-Sep-44) Bremen, Germany Hawkins, R. D.  
#150 (27-Sep-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany Thomas, M. G.  
#152 (02-Oct-44) Kassel, Germany Zalewski, T. AIRCRAFT LOST; crew bailed out OK

 

Members of the Zalewski crew that were on board 42-31095 for the mission October 2, 1944.

Lt. T Zalewski Pilot
Lt. WL Archer Co-Pilot
Lt. AH Muth Navigator
Lt. RM McCollum Bombardier
S/Sgt RW Gilbert Top Turret Gunner
S/Sgt EW Brooks Radio Operator
S/Sgt RJ Wilting Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt G Rozema Waist Gunner
Sgt F Montalbano Tail Gunner

 

 

3. A/C #095, pilot Lt. Zalewski, suffered the loss of one engine and damage to a second engine over the target due to flak. He trailed the formation to the French Border where he lost another engine. The last message received was that operating on one engine and running out of fuel, he had successfully bailed out his crew 19 miles SE of Brussels and was preparing to bail out himself.

4. This one aircraft, #095 was lost due to enemy action

Ground Pounder was salvaged for parts, where she landed, during April, 1945

 

 


Some photos/information provided by:

Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database