B-17G-15-BO 42-31431
710th SQ
Delivered Cheyenne 4/11/43; Assigned 710BS/447BG Rattlesden 23/12/43
Flight listings for 42-31431
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 |
#13 (03-Feb-44) | Wilhelmshaven, Germany | Chardi, M. L. | |
#14 (04-Feb-44) | Frankfurt, Germany | Eastman, T. F. | slated #104 |
#18 (10-Feb-44) | Brunswick, Germany | Esterline, M. A. | |
#19 (13-Feb-44) | Pas de Calais, Marquenville, France | Norris, T. R. | |
#20 (20-Feb-44) | Rostock, Germany | Chardi, M. L. | |
#22 (24-Feb-44) | Rostock, Germany | Harris, H. | slated #777 |
#23 (25-Feb-44) | Regensburg, Germany | Chardi, M. L. | MISSING |
Missing in Action Regensburg 25/2/44 with Merlin Chardi, Co-pilot: Capt Campbell Palfrey, Navigator: Dewayne Pohl, Bombardier: Frank Stumpf, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Sheppard, Radio Operator: Rich Adams, Ball turret gunner: Jim Magruder, Waist gunner: John Leonard, Waist gunner: Ernie Lacross,Tail gunner: Larry House (10 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Ottweiler, between Alschbach & Niederwurzbach, nine miles E of Saarbrucken, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2891.
Articles attached to the 42-31431 entry from the American Air Museum.
In his book One Lucky Bastard, Stub Warfle identifies another copy of this photo as showing 42-31431 with Capt. Palfrey and the Chardi crew going down with an engine on fire; February 25, 1944. (p. 117) See Books of Interest.
With further enhancement and analysis, this photo is now known to show the H2S Radar Pathfinder 42-5909, on loan from the 482nd Bomb Group, and going down on February 2, 1944, flown by Major Sheppard of the 447th Bomb Group.
Photo from the collection of Mr. Rob Kirkwood
Some photos/information provided by:
- Mr. Rob Kirkwood
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database