B-17G-1-BO 42-31112
710th SQ
Newspaper photo from Syracuse Herald-American, sometime after March 3, 1944, when Paper Doll was lost over Germany.
Boeing’s B-17G-1-BO was delivered to the USAAF on September 21, 1943 and assigned to the 447th Bomb Group at Harvard AAB. It was flown across the Atlantic by Lt. Francis Graham. On board for the transit flight were:
| Lt. Francis R. Graham |
| Lt. Carroll O. Welt, Jr. |
| Lt. Karol S. Dubiel |
| Lt. David P. Wohl, Jr. |
| Sgt Joyce C. Riddlehoover |
| S/Sgt Lynn Brown, Jr. |
| Pfc Henry E. Pruett |
| Sgt Edward R. Hallock |
| S/Sgt Ralph R. Bender |
| Sgt Felix C. Hall |
Photo labeled as Paper Doll crew
Flight listings for 42-31112
These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.
En route to Berlin, the formation had crossed the North Sea, when it crossed paths with a 1st Division group returning from a recall. One plane from the 91st Bomb Group collided with an aircraft from the 94th Bomb Group. Debris from that collision struck and damaged Paper Doll. It fell and crashed with the loss of all on board.
| On Paper Doll (MACR 2887) | ||
| Pilot | Lt Francis R. Graham | KIA |
| Copilot | 2Lt Carroll O. Welt Jr | KIA |
| Navigator | 2Lt Karol S. Dubiel | KIA |
| Bombardier | 2Lt David P. Wohl Jr | KIA |
| Top Turret | T/Sgt Joyce C. Riddlehoover | KIA |
| Radio Operator | S/Sgt Henry E. Pruett | KIA |
| Ball Turret | S/Sgt Ralph R. Bender | KIA |
| Left Waist | S/Sgt Felix C. Hall | KIA |
| Right Waist | S/Sgt Lynn R. Brown Jr | KIA |
| Tail Gunner | S/Sgt Edward R. Hallock | KIA |
Paper Doll’s name would return to the 710th Sqdn on 42-107052 Paper Doll II
Combat Missions (previously compiled)
| No | DATE | TARGET | PILOT |
| 1 | 01/04/44 | MERIGNAC | Graham |
| 2 | 01/07/44 | LUDWIGSHAFEN | Kauffun |
| 3 | 01/11/44 | BRUNSWICK | Graham |
| 4 | 01/21/44 | NOBALL NO. 107 | Norris / Esterline |
| 5 | 01/24/44 | FRANKFURT | Graham |
| 6 | 01/29/44 | BRUNSWICK | Graham |
| 7 | 01/30/44 | WILHELMSHAVEN | Skinner |
| 8 | 02/03/44 | FRANKFURT | Leavitt |
| 9 | 02/04/44 | ROMILLY | Graham |
| 10 | 02/05/44 | EVREUX-FAUVILLE | Graham |
| 11 | 02/08/44 | BRUNSWICK | Graham |
| 12 | 02/13/44 | WESEL | Graham |
| 13 | 02/20/44 | TUTOW | Graham |
| 14 | 02/21/44 | DIEPHOLZ | Graham |
| 15 | 02/24/44 | ROSTOCK | Beaty |
| 16 | 02/25/44 | REGENSBURG | Leavitt |
| 17 | 02/29/44 | BRUNSWICK | Leavitt |
| 18 | 03/03/44 | BERLIN – RECALL | Graham |
Some photos/information provided by:
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database