B-17G-5-BO 42-31188
709th SQ — M
A B-17G-5-BO, built at the Boeing Seattle plane and delivered to the USAAF on September 29, 1943, No. 188 joined the 447th at Harvard AAB. It was flown across the Atlantic by Lt. Clarence Perkins of the 709th Squadron. On board for the transit flight were:
| Lt. Clarence A. Perkins |
| Lt. Glenn J. Halvorsen |
| Lt. Ernest M. Norman |
| Lt. Thomas P. Foley |
| S/Sgt Harold B. Overton |
| S/Sgt Cliffor L. Myers |
| Sgt Irwin G. Marcuse |
| Sgt Ralph D. Warren |
| Sgt William J. Moore |
| Sgt Donald E. Collier |
Flight listings for 42-31188
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 |
Smith, B. B. |
|
| #2 (30-Dec-43) |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Allen, C. M. |
Not attack |
| #3 (31-Dec-43) |
Cognac, France |
Stenvig, J. A. |
|
| #6 (07-Jan-44) |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Skinner, E. H. |
|
| #7 (11-Jan-44) |
Brunswick, Germany |
Perkins, C. A. |
|
| #8 (14-Jan-44) |
Grand Parc, France |
Lowry, F. A. |
Spare: Replaced Gruber |
| #9 (21-Jan-44) |
Grand Parc, France |
Perkins, C. A. |
|
| #10 (24-Jan-44) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Perkins, C. A. |
Not attack |
| #11 (29-Jan-44) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Kreuzer, H. L. |
ABORT Oxygen out |
| #12 (30-Jan-44) |
Brunswick, Germany |
Sizer, J. C. |
Not attack |
| #13 (03-Feb-44) |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
Perkins, C. A. |
|
| #14 (04-Feb-44) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Perkins, C. A. |
|
| #18 (10-Feb-44) |
Brunswick, Germany |
Perkins, C. A. |
ABORT |
| #22 (24-Feb-44) |
Rostock, Germany |
Harris, C, W. |
long delay |
| #26 (03-Mar-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
McGuire, H. A. |
|
| #27 (04-Mar-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Herdic, C. W. |
ABORT could not find formation |
| #31 (11-Mar-44) |
Munster, Germany |
Goetz, W. B. |
ABORT Supercharger |
| #35 (18-Mar-44) |
Munich, Germany |
Sizer, J. C. |
|
| #40 (27-Mar-44) |
Merignac, Chartes, France |
Tigh, W. P. |
|
| #42 (01-Apr-44) |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Gruber, M. J. |
|
| #43 (08-Apr-44) |
Rheine, Germany |
Sizer, J. C. |
|
| #44 (09-Apr-44) |
Warnemunde, Germany |
Sizer, J. C. |
|
| #45 (10-Apr-44) |
Diest Schaffen, Germany |
Sizer, J. C. |
|
| #46 (11-Apr-44) |
Arnimswalde, Poland |
Kreuzer, H. L. |
ABORT Gas leak; T/O and landed, then T/O again in same plane |
| #48 (18-Apr-44) |
Oranienburg / Rathnow, Germany |
Sizer, J. C. |
|
| #49 (19-Apr-44) |
Lippstadt / Werl, Germany |
Sizer, J. C. |
slated 217 |
| #50 (20-Apr-44) |
Cherbourg / Bois de la Justice, France |
Sizer, J. C. |
|
| #53 (26-Apr-44) |
Brunswick, Germany |
Sizer, J. C. |
|
| #54 (27-Apr-44) |
French coast |
Sizer, J. C. |
|
| #55 (27-Apr-44) |
Le Culot, France |
Flemming, D. S. |
|
| #56 (29-Apr-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Walsh, W. J. |
|
| #57 (30-Apr-44) |
Clermont Ferrand, France |
Miller, W. |
|
| #58 (01-May-44) |
Marquenville, France |
Mitchell, C. R. |
|
| #60 (08-May-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Olds, R. W. |
ABORT Oxy failure |
| #61 (09-May-44) |
Laon / Athies, France |
Olds, R. W. |
|
| #63 (12-May-44) |
Zwickau, Germany |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #64 (13-May-44) |
Osnabruck, Germany |
Kaye, H. C. |
|
| #68 (23-May-44) |
Troyes, France |
Otto, H. S. |
|
| #71 (27-May-44) |
Karlsruhe, Germany |
Farson, M. W. |
ABORT Gas leak |
| #89 (14-Jun-44) |
Florennes, Belgium |
Hilding, R. D. |
|
| #90 (15-Jun-44) |
Misburg, Germany |
Hilding, R. D. |
Airborn Spare |
| #91 (18-Jun-44) |
Misburg, Germany |
Hilding, R. D. |
|
| #94 (21-Jun-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Skalitsky, S. B. |
|
| #95 (22-Jun-44) |
Nucourt, France |
Bloecker, W. R. |
|
| #96 (23-Jun-44) |
St. Quentin, France |
Hilding, R. D. |
|
| #97 (24-Jun-44) |
Wesermunde, Germany |
Bloecker, W. R. |
T/O – ret’d #2 Eng out, T/O again |
| #99 (25-Jun-44) |
Vercors, France Area #1 |
Miller, G. H. |
|
| #104 (07-Jul-44) |
Meresburg, Germany |
Bloecker, W. R. |
Failed to T/O Magneto |
| #105 (08-Jul-44) |
St.Andre De L’eure / Nogent, France |
Bloecker, W. R. |
|
| #108 (13-Jul-44) |
Munich, Germany |
Phillips, L. |
ABORT #3 Eng out |
| #115 (24-Jul-44) |
St. Lo, France |
Bloecker, W. R. |
|
| #116 (25-Jul-44) |
St. Lo, France |
Bloecker, W. R. |
|
| #117 (27-Jul-44) |
Ostend, Belgium |
Hatfield, B. E. |
|
| #125 (11-Aug-44) |
Belfort, France |
Phillips, J. M. |
|
| #126 (13-Aug-44) |
Seine river area, France |
Lazzarini, H. |
|
| #127 (14-Aug-44) |
Mannheim, Germany |
Bloecker, W. R. |
|
| #133 (26-Aug-44) |
Brest, France |
Delle Monache, L. J. |
|
| #134 (27-Aug-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Milks, H. J. |
|
| #137 (03-Sep-44) |
Brest, France |
Craig, D. W. |
|
| #138 (05-Sep-44) |
Brest, France |
Craig, D. W. |
|
| #139 (08-Sep-44) |
Mainz, Germany |
Craig, D. W. |
|
| #141 (10-Sep-44) |
Giebelstadt, Germany |
Hrabovsky, S. J. |
|
| #142 (11-Sep-44) |
Fulda, Germany |
Dingivan, E. A. |
|
| #145 (17-Sep-44) |
Arnheim, Holland |
Hrabovsky, S. J. |
|
| #146 (19-Sep-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Dingivan, E. A. |
|
| #147 (22-Sep-44) |
Kassel, Germany |
Houseknect, W. K. |
Target of Opp |
| #152 (02-Oct-44) |
Kassel, Germany |
Cohen, E. |
|
| #153 (03-Oct-44) |
Giebelstadt, Germany |
Milks, H. J. |
|
| #154 (05-Oct-44) |
Munster, Germany |
Cohen, E. |
|
| #155 (06-Oct-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Cooke, J. F. |
|
| #157 (09-Oct-44) |
Gustavsburg, Germany |
Cohen, E. |
|
| #160 (15-Oct-44) |
Cologne, Germany |
Cooke, J. F. |
Eng broke arm |
| #161 (17-Oct-44) |
Cologne, Germany |
Clawson, O. R. |
|
| #167 (30-Oct-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Krug, A. A. |
|
| #170 (04-Nov-44) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Briggs, A. D |
|
| #172 (06-Nov-44) |
Neumunster, Germany |
Graves, P. A. |
ABORT |
| #173 (09-Nov-44) |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
Hodge, L. T. |
slated #900 |
| #175 (16-Nov-44) |
Duren, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
Landed at Welford Park |
| #176 (21-Nov-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
| #177 (25-Nov-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #183 (10-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #184 (11-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #185 (12-Dec-44) |
Darmstadt, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #186 (15-Dec-44) |
Hannover, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #188 (24-Dec-44) |
Babenhausen, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
camera |
| #189 (28-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Dewey, R. J. |
|
| #190 (30-Dec-44) |
Mannheim, Germany |
Jennings, H. C. |
Leaflets |
| #193 (02-Jan-45) |
Nalbach, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #194 (03-Jan-45) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
Leaflets |
| #195 (05-Jan-45) |
Waxweiler, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #196 (06-Jan-45) |
Worms, Germany |
Stanley, F. N. |
|
| #199 (10-Jan-45) |
Karlsruhe, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
Landed at Sudbury |
| #201 (14-Jan-45) |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Graves, P. A. |
|
| #202 (15-Jan-45) |
Augsburg, Germany |
Hewit, E. R. |
|
| #203 (16-Jan-45) |
Dessau, Germany |
Krug, A. A. |
switched planes with Stanley, F. N. ; Landed at Sandtoft |
| #205 (21-Jan-45) |
Mannheim, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
Leaflets |
| #206 (29-Jan-45) |
Kassel, Germany |
Mustaleski, T. M. |
|
| #207 (01-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
leaflets |
| #211 (14-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #212 (15-Feb-45) |
Cottbus, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #213 (16-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #216 (22-Feb-45) |
Aalen, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #217 (23-Feb-45) |
Crailsheim, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #218 (24-Feb-45) |
Bremen, Germany |
Graves, P. A. |
|
| #219 (25-Feb-45) |
Neuberg, Germany |
Coleman, R. |
|
| #222 (01-Mar-45) |
Ulm, Germany |
Horton, J. S. |
|
| #223 (02-Mar-45) |
Dresden, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
Leflets |
| #224 (03-Mar-45) |
Brunswick, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
Leaflets |
| #225 (07-Mar-45) |
Datteln-Emscher Lippe, Germany |
Summers, C. D. |
Landed on Continent |
| #227 (09-Mar-45) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Summers, C. D. |
Leaflets |
| #228 (10-Mar-45) |
Dortmund, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
|
| #229 (11-Mar-45) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Coleman, R. |
|
| #230 (12-Mar-45) |
Marburg, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
|
| #231 (14-Mar-45) |
Hannover, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
|
| #233 (17-Mar-45) |
Ruhland, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
|
| #234 (18-Mar-45) |
Berlin, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
|
| #235 (19-Mar-45) |
Zwickau, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
|
| #236 (20-Mar-45) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
|
| #237 (21-Mar-45) |
Wittmundhafen, Germany |
Bland, A. I. |
|
| #238 (22-Mar-45) |
Heibert, Germany area |
Beckwith, L. R. |
|
| #239 (23-Mar-45) |
Holzwickede, Germany |
Beckwith, L. R. |
|
| #241 (28-Mar-45) |
Hannover, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
|
| #242 (30-Mar-45) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
|
| #256 (19-Apr-45) |
Dresden, Germany |
Glazener, R. F. |
MISSING (jets) |
Undated photo, apparently at Rattlesden. Before the color markings were adopted, as seen in the photo below.
Later photo after the 4th Combat Wing adopted the yellow tails and the 447th added green stripes.
Dead Man’s Hand was the last combat loss for the 447th. On April 19, on the group’s second-to-last mission, No. 188 was hit during a single pass through the formation my German jet fighters.
On board Dead Man’s Hand (MACR 14180)
| Lt Robert F. Glazener |
Pilot |
POW |
| 2Lt Harold Cramer |
Copilot |
KIA |
| FO Raymond E. Fortier |
Navigator |
POW |
| Sgt Ernest L. Purcifull Jr |
Bombardier |
POW |
| Sgt Sebastian Bucceri |
Top Turret |
POW |
| Sgt Hobart A. Jarvis |
Radio Operator |
POW |
| Sgt Theodore E. Ciemier |
Ball Turret |
POW |
| Sgt James W. Burton |
Tail Gunner |
POW |
Combat Missions (previously compiled)
One of the 447th’s “Century Ships,” Dead Man’s Hand is credited with 111 combat missions. From available records, we’ve identified 106, shown below.
(Compilation by Rob Kirkwood)
| NO |
DATE |
TARGET |
PILOT |
| 1 |
12/31/43 |
COGNAC |
Stenvig |
| 2 |
01/07/44 |
LUDWIGSHAFEN |
Skinner |
| 3 |
01/11/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
Perkins |
| 4 |
01/14/44 |
NOBALL NO. 107 GRAND PARC |
Lowry |
| 5 |
01/21/44 |
NOBALL NO. 107 |
Perkins |
| 6 |
01/29/44 |
FRANKFURT |
Kruezer |
| 7 |
01/30/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
Sizer |
| 8 |
02/03/44 |
WILHELMSHAVEN |
Perkins |
| 9 |
02/04/44 |
FRANKFURT |
Perkins |
| 10 |
02/10/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
Perkins |
| 11 |
02/24/44 |
ROSTOCK |
Harris |
| 12 |
03/11/44 |
MUNSTER |
Goetz |
| 13 |
03/13/44 |
NOBALL NO. 74 BOIS DE LA JUSTICE |
Sizer |
| 14 |
03/18/44 |
MUNICH |
Sizer |
| 15 |
03/27/44 |
MARIGNAC CHARTRES |
Tigh |
| 16 |
04/01/44 |
LUDWIGSHAVEN (RECALL) |
Gruber |
| 17 |
04/08/44 |
RHEINE |
Sizer |
| 18 |
04/10/44 |
DIEST SCHAFFEN |
Sizer |
| 19 |
04/11/44 |
ARNIMSWALDE |
Kruezer |
| 20 |
04/18/44 |
ORANIENBURG RATHNOW |
Sizer |
| 21 |
04/19/44 |
LIPSTADT WERL |
Sizer |
| 22 |
04/20/44 |
NOBALL |
Sizer |
| 23 |
04/26/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
Sizer |
| 24 |
04/27/44 |
NOBALL NO. 78 |
Sizer |
| 25 |
04/29/44 |
BERLIN |
Walsh |
| 26 |
04/30/44 |
CLERMONT A/D |
Miller |
| 27 |
05/01/44 |
NOBALL – RECALL |
Mitchell |
| 28 |
05/09/44 |
LAON/ATHIES A/D |
Olds |
| 29 |
05/12/44 |
ZWICKAU |
Kaye |
| 30 |
05/13/44 |
OSNABRUCK |
Kaye |
| 31 |
05/23/44 |
TROYES |
Otto |
| 32 |
06/14/44 |
FLORENNES/JUZAINE A/F |
Hilding |
| 33 |
06/18/44 |
MISBURG |
Hilding |
| 34 |
06/21/44 |
BERLIN |
Skalitzky |
| 35 |
06/22/44 |
NUCOURT |
Bloecker |
| 36 |
06/23/44 |
ST. QUENTIN |
Hilding |
| 37 |
06/25/44 |
AREA #1 “ZEBRA” |
G.H. Miller |
| 38 |
07/08/44 |
ST. ANDRE DE L’EURE / NOGENT M/Y |
Bloecker |
| 39 |
07/24/44 |
ST. LO AREA |
Bloecker |
| 40 |
07/25/44 |
ST. LO AREA |
Bloecker |
| 41 |
07/27/44 |
OSTEND |
Hatfield |
| 42 |
08/11/44 |
BELFORT M/V |
Phillips |
| 43 |
08/13/44 |
SEINE R. AREA |
Lazzarini |
| 44 |
08/14/44 |
MANNHEIM |
Bloecker |
| 45 |
08/26/44 |
BREST |
Delle Monache |
| 46 |
08/28/44 |
BERLIN |
Milks |
| 47 |
09/03/44 |
BREST |
Craig |
| 48 |
09/05/44 |
BREST |
Craig |
| 49 |
09/08/44 |
MAINZ |
Craig |
| 50 |
09/11/44 |
FULDA |
Dingivan |
| 51 |
09/17/44 |
ARNHEIM |
Hrabovsky |
| 52 |
09/19/44 |
KOBLENZ |
Dingivan |
| 53 |
09/22/44 |
KASSEL |
Houseknecht |
| 54 |
10/02/44 |
KASSEL |
Cohen |
| 55 |
10/05/44 |
MUNSTER A/F |
Cohen |
| 56 |
10/06/44 |
BERLIN |
Cooke |
| 57 |
10/09/44 |
GUSTAVSBURG |
Cohen |
| 58 |
10/17/44 |
COLOGNE |
Clawson |
| 59 |
10/30/44 |
MERSEBURG |
Krug |
| 60 |
11/04/44 |
HAMBURG |
Briggs |
| 61 |
11/06/44 |
NEUMUNSTER |
Graves |
| 62 |
11/09/44 |
SAARBRUCKEN |
Hodge |
| 63 |
11/16/44 |
DUREN AREA |
Horton |
| 64 |
11/21/44 |
KOBLENZ |
Neal |
| 65 |
11/25/44 |
MERSEBURG |
Horton |
| 66 |
12/10/44 |
KOBLENZ |
Horton |
| 67 |
12/11/44 |
KOBLENZ GIESSEN |
Horton |
| 68 |
12/12/44 |
DORMSTADT |
Horton |
| 69 |
12/15/44 |
HANOVER |
Horton |
| 70 |
12/24/44 |
BABENHAUSEN |
Horton |
| 71 |
12/30/44 |
MANNHEIM |
Jennings |
| 72 |
01/02/45 |
NALBACH- |
Horton |
| 73 |
01/03/45 |
KOBLENZ |
Horton |
| 74 |
01/05/45 |
WAXWEILER |
Horton |
| 75 |
01/06/45 |
WORMS |
Stanley |
| 76 |
01/10/45 |
KARLSRUHE |
Horton |
| 77 |
01/14/45 |
MADGEBURG |
Graves |
| 78 |
01/15/45 |
AUGSBURG |
Hewitt |
| 79 |
01/21/45 |
MANNHEIM |
Horton |
| 80 |
01/29/45 |
KASSEL |
Mustaleski |
| 81 |
02/01/45 |
WESSEL |
Horton |
| 82 |
02/15/45 |
COTTBUS |
Horton |
| 83 |
02/16/45 |
WESEL & RHEINE |
Horton |
| 84 |
02/22/45 |
AALEN |
Horton |
| 85 |
02/23/45 |
CRAILSHEIM |
Horton |
| 86 |
02/25/45 |
NEUBERG |
Coleman |
| 87 |
02/26/45 |
BERLIN |
Stanley |
| 88 |
03/01/45 |
ULM |
Horton |
| 89 |
03/02/45 |
DRESDEN |
Glazener |
| 90 |
03/03/45 |
BRUNSWICK |
Glazener |
| 91 |
03/07/45 |
DATTELN |
Summers |
| 92 |
03/09/45 |
FRANKFURT |
Summers |
| 93 |
03/10/45 |
DORTMUND |
Glazener |
| 94 |
03/11/45 |
HAMBURG |
Coleman |
| 95 |
03/12/45 |
MARBURG |
Glazener |
| 96 |
03/15/45 |
ORANIENBURG |
Glazener |
| 97 |
03/17/45 |
RUHLAND |
Glazener |
| 98 |
03/18/45 |
BERLIN |
Glazener |
| 99 |
03/19/45 |
ZWICKAU |
Glazener |
| 100 |
03/20/45 |
HAMBURG |
Glazener |
| 101 |
03/21/45 |
WITTMUNDHAFEN |
Bland |
| 102 |
03/22/45 |
HELBERT AREA |
Beckwith |
| 103 |
03/23/45 |
HOLZWICKEDE |
Beckwith |
| 104 |
03/28/45 |
HANOVER |
Glazener |
| 105 |
03/30/45 |
HAMBURG |
Glazener |
| 106 |
04/19/45 |
DRESDEN |
Glazener |
Some photos/information provided by:
