42-31112 PAPER DOLL

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.

447th Mission (Date) Target Pilot Notes
#2 (30-Dec-43) Ludwigshafen, Germany Duke, E. L.  
#4 (04-Jan-44) Kiel, Germany Graham, F. R.  
#6 (07-Jan-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany Kaffun, E. Ret’d Abort
#7 (11-Jan-44) Brunswick, Germany Graham, F. R.  
#8 (14-Jan-44) Grand Parc, France Graham, F. R. 710th SQ
#9 (21-Jan-44) Grand Parc, France Esterline, M. A.  
#10 (24-Jan-44) Frankfurt, Germany Graham, F. R.  
#11 (29-Jan-44) Frankfurt, Germany Graham, F. R.  
#12 (30-Jan-44) Brunswick, Germany Skinner, E. H.  
#13 (03-Feb-44) Wilhelmshaven, Germany Leavitt, G. N. (was #210)
#14 (04-Feb-44) Frankfurt, Germany Graham, F. R.  
#15 (05-Feb-44) Romilly-sur-Seine, France Graham, F. R.  
#17 (08-Feb-44) Weisbaden, Germany Graham, F. R.  
#19 (13-Feb-44) Pas de Calais, Marquenville, France Graham, F. R.  
#20 (20-Feb-44) Rostock, Germany Graham, F. R.  
#21 (21-Feb-44) Diepholz, Germany Graham, F. R.  
#22 (24-Feb-44) Rostock, Germany Beaty, E. E.  
#23 (25-Feb-44) Regensburg, Germany Leavitt, G. N. ABORT Oil leak
#25 (29-Feb-44) Brunswick, Germany Leavitt, G. N.  
#26 (03-Mar-44) Berlin, Germany Graham, F. R. MISSING

 

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