B-17G-5-BO 42-31185
708th SQ — M
Taken around April-May 1944, 37 missions flown
No. 43-31185, “Satchel Lass,” a B-17G-5-BO, was built by Boeing and delivered to the Army Air Force on September 29, 1943. It was one of the original 708th Squadron aircraft, ferried across the Atlantic to Rattlesden in November 1943. On board were:
| Capt. Gene C. Smith |
Opns O (P) |
| 2nd Lt Arthur R. Socolofsky |
Pilot |
| 2nd Lt Wray N. Nylton |
Navigator |
| 1st Lt Robert W. Van Longen |
Bombardier |
| Sgt Howard L. Rothermel |
ROG |
| M/Sgt Thomas Maggerty |
Sq Line Chief |
| S/Sgt John F. Dolan |
Sq Opns Clerk |
| S/Sgt George H. Bonnett |
Engineering |
| M/Sgt Johnie M. Holcomb |
Engineering |
| Sgt Robert C. Wilson |
Gp Comm Clerk |
Source: Sp. Order No. 272, Kearny, courtesy of Mr. Joseph Genter
Flight listings for 42-31185
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 |
| #1 (24-Dec-43) |
Droinville, France |
Graham, F. R. |
|
| #3 (31-Dec-43) |
Cognac, France |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #5 (05-Jan-44) |
Merignac, France |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
Ret’d |
| #7 (11-Jan-44) |
Brunswick, Germany |
Pauling, H. S. |
|
| #8 (14-Jan-44) |
Grand Parc, France |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #9 (21-Jan-44) |
Grand Parc, France |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #10 (24-Jan-44) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #11 (29-Jan-44) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Rozmus, H. A. |
|
| #12 (30-Jan-44) |
Brunswick, Germany |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #13 (03-Feb-44) |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
Finfinger, G. E. |
#563 slated |
| #15 (05-Feb-44) |
Romilly-sur-Seine, France |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #16 (06-Feb-44) |
Evreux-Fauville, France |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #17 (08-Feb-44) |
Weisbaden, Germany |
Pauling, H. S. |
|
| #19 (13-Feb-44) |
Pas de Calais, Marquenville, France |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #20 (20-Feb-44) |
Rostock, Germany |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #21 (21-Feb-44) |
Diepholz, Germany |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
Not attack, #2 supercharger |
| #22 (24-Feb-44) |
Rostock, Germany |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #31 (11-Mar-44) |
Munster, Germany |
Hughes, H. T. |
|
| #32 (13-Mar-44) |
Bois de la Justice, France |
Donahue, W. D. |
|
| #34 (16-Mar-44) |
Augsburg, Germany |
Socolofsky, A. R. |
|
| #36 (20-Mar-44) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Marcy, C. H. |
|
| #38 (23-Mar-44) |
Brunswick, Germany |
Hopla, C. S. |
|
| #40 (27-Mar-44) |
Merignac, Chartes, France |
Stenvig, J. A. |
|
| #41 (28-Mar-44) |
Chartres, France |
Hopla, C. S. |
|
| #44 (09-Apr-44) |
Warnemunde, Germany |
Herdic, C. W. |
CRASH LANDED at Honnington |
| #65 (19-May-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Herdic, C. W. |
|
| #76 (02-Jun-44) |
Wimereux, France |
Leitch, D. G. |
|
| #78 (03-Jun-44) |
Pas de Calais / Audresselles, France |
Bowers, H. C. |
Spare |
| #80 (04-Jun-44) |
Versailles, France |
Hilding, R. D. |
Not disp; #4 eng fail |
| #81 (05-Jun-44) |
Le Touquet, France |
Leitch, D. G. |
|
| #85 (07-Jun-44) |
Nantes, France |
Leitch, D. G. |
|
| #86 (08-Jun-44) |
Nantes, France |
Leitch, D. G. |
|
| #92 (19-Jun-44) |
St.Jean D’Angely, France |
Thorpe, T. G. |
|
| #95 (22-Jun-44) |
Nucourt, France |
McKahan, F. H. |
|
| #106 (11-Jul-44) |
Munich, Germany |
Bloecker, W. R. |
ABORT #4 Eng vibration (Slated #6003) |
| #109 (14-Jul-44) |
Area 10, France |
McKahan, F. H. |
|
| #113 (20-Jul-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Farson, M. W. |
replacement plane (after ABORT in #624) |
| #115 (24-Jul-44) |
St. Lo, France |
Lakeman, L. F. |
|
| #116 (25-Jul-44) |
St. Lo, France |
Polansky, J. G. |
|
| #127 (14-Aug-44) |
Mannheim, Germany |
Schimandle, F. J. |
|
| #128 (15-Aug-44) |
Handorf, Germany |
Polansky, J. G. |
|
| #132 (25-Aug-44) |
Rechlin, Germany |
Adams, J. M. |
|
| #133 (26-Aug-44) |
Brest, France |
McKahan, F. H. |
|
| #136 (01-Sep-44) |
Mainz, Germany |
Adams, J. M. |
|
| #137 (03-Sep-44) |
Brest, France |
McKahan, F. H. |
|
| #140 (09-Sep-44) |
Besancon, France |
Weddle, J. L. |
ABORT #3 engine out |
| #141 (10-Sep-44) |
Giebelstadt, Germany |
Adams, J. M. |
|
| #144 (13-Sep-44) |
Stuttgart, Germany |
Adams, J. M. |
|
| #147 (22-Sep-44) |
Kassel, Germany |
Thomas, M. G. |
|
| #156 (07-Oct-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Weeks, R. N. |
|
| #157 (09-Oct-44) |
Gustavsburg, Germany |
Polansky, J. G. |
slated #531 |
| #167 (30-Oct-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Tietjen, R. D. |
|
| #171 (05-Nov-44) |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Cohen, E. |
slated #215 |
| #172 (06-Nov-44) |
Neumunster, Germany |
Hysong, J. W. |
|
Photographed in February, after 13 missions
(From B-17 Flying Fortress Story by Roger Freeman)
Taken around April-May 1944, 37 missions flown
The source within the 447th of the name Satchel Lass and the distinctive nose art is not known. The painting was copied from a well-known pin-up, painted by Alberto Vargas. The artwork is seen as early as February, 1944. The name Satchel Lass was added sometime between February and May.
Westrope crew standing in front of 42-31185 Satchel Lass (most likely just a convenient backdrop) probably autumn 1944.
A crashed B-17G 42-31185 at Honington, 9 September 1944.
708SQ; HARVARD c/l 9/4/44; sal (*at least 2 references to this aircraft in service after 9/4/44)
Some photos/information provided by:
- Rob Kirkwood
- David Wayrynen
- Chris French
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database
