43-37869 BLONDE BOMBER

B-17G-70-BO 43-37869

710th SQ

 

Mid-September 1944 based on 20 mission tallies.

B-17G-70-BO 43-37869 was completed in the Seattle plant on May 31, 1944. It was assigned to the 710th Bomb Squadron, 447th Bomb Group, and reached Rattlesden at the end of June. Blonde Bomber was named by crew chief M/Sgt Milan P. Maroney, in honor of his wife.

 

Flight listings for 43-37869

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
#113 (20-Jul-44) Merseburg, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#114 (21-Jul-44) Regensburg, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#115 (24-Jul-44) St. Lo, France Brown, T. K.  
#118 (01-Aug-44) Areas 10 & 14, France Brown, T. K.  
#119 (02-Aug-44) St. Dennis, France Brown, T. K.  
#120 (04-Aug-44) Arras – Ostend, Belgium Shute, J. E.  
#122 (07-Aug-44) Anizy le Chateau, France Brown, T. K.  
#123 (08-Aug-44) Bretteville sur Laise, France Brown, T. K.  
#124 (09-Aug-44) Aachen, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#125 (11-Aug-44) Belfort, France Brown, T. K.  
#126 (13-Aug-44) Seine river area, France Brown, T. K.  
#127 (14-Aug-44) Mannheim, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#128 (15-Aug-44) Handorf, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#129 (16-Aug-44) Rositz, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#131 (24-Aug-44) Brux, Czechoslovakia Brown, T. K.  
#135 (30-Aug-44) Bremen, Germany Nelms, R. A.  
#136 (01-Sep-44) Mainz, Germany Moore, L. W.  
#137 (03-Sep-44) Brest, France Brown, T. K.  
#138 (05-Sep-44) Brest, France Morrison, J. U.  
#139 (08-Sep-44) Mainz, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#143 (12-Sep-44) Bohlen & Fulda, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#144 (13-Sep-44) Stuttgart, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#147 (22-Sep-44) Kassel, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#148 (25-Sep-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany Brown, T. K.  
#149 (26-Sep-44) Bremen, Germany Moore, L. W.  
#150 (27-Sep-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#151 (28-Sep-44) Merseburg, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#152 (02-Oct-44) Kassel, Germany Harwood, R. I.  
#154 (05-Oct-44) Munster, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#156 (07-Oct-44) Merseburg, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#157 (09-Oct-44) Gustavsburg, Germany Hight, J. R.  
#159 (14-Oct-44) Cologne, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#160 (15-Oct-44) Cologne, Germany Olson, G. E.  
#161 (17-Oct-44) Cologne, Germany Olson, G. E.  
#163 (19-Oct-44) Mannheim, Germany Harmon, C. W.  
#165 (25-Oct-44) Harburg, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#166 (26-Oct-44) Hanover, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#167 (30-Oct-44) Merseburg, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#169 (02-Nov-44) Merseburg, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#172 (06-Nov-44) Neumunster, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#173 (09-Nov-44) Saarbrucken, Germany Pearsall, E. M.  
#177 (25-Nov-44) Merseburg, Germany Blair, H. W. MISSING

 

On November 25, Blonde Bomber was hit by flak over Merseburg, and was seen to leave the formation under control. The aircraft is reported to have crashed near Plauen, approximately 20 miles away.

Summary from MACR 10756

Members of the Harry Blair crew that were on board 43-37869 for the mission November 25, 1944.

2Lt Harry W. Blair Pilot POW
F/O Charles S. Voyles Copilot KIA
2Lt John D. Bante Navigator POW
FO Kenneth G. Perry Bombardier KIA
Sgt Valentine Williams Top Turret POW
Sgt Arthur L. Litchfield Radio Operator KIA
Sgt Leo Wolfe Ball Turret POW
Sgt Jack C. Peterson Right Waist POW
Sgt Edward H. Todd Tail Gunner POW

 

Undated photo, probably summer or early fall 1944.

 

Blonde Bomber with 32 mission marks.

 

 

The name Blonde Bomber would reappear on 43-38524 as Blonde Bomber II

 


Combat Missions

No. DATE TARGET PILOT
1 07/20/44 Merseburg T.K. Brown
2 07/24/44 St. Lo Area T.K. Brown
3 08/01/44 Areas 10 & 14 T.K. Brown
4 08/02/44 St. Dennis T.K. Brown
5 08/04/44 Arras-Ostend Shute
6 08/07/44 Anizy le Chateau T.K. Brown
7 08/08/44 Bretteville T.K. Brown
8 08/09/44 Aachen T.K. Brown
9 08/11/44 Belfort M/Y T.K. Brown
10 08/14/44 Mannheim T.K. Brown
11 08/15/44 Handorf A/F Brown
12 08/16/44 Rositz T.K. Brown
13 08/24/44 Brux T.K. Brown
14 08/30/44 Bremen Nelms
15 09/01/44 Mainz Moore
16 09/03/44 Brest Brown
17 09/05/44 Brest Morrison
18 09/08/44 Mainz Brown
19 09/12/44 Bohlen Brown
20 09/13/44 Stuttgart Brown
21 09/26/44 Bremen Moore
22 10/02/44 Kassel Harwood
23 10/05/44 Munster A/F Pearsall
24 10/07/44 Merseburg Pearsall
25 10/09/44 Gustavsburg Haight
26 10/14/44 Cologne Pearsall
27 10/15/44 Cologne Olson
28 10/17/44 Cologne Olson
29 10/19/44 Mannheim Harmon
30 10/25/44 Harburg Pearsall
31 10/26/44 Hanover Pearsall
32 10/30/44 Merseburg Pearsall
33 11/02/44 Merseburg Pearsall
34 11/06/44 Neumunster Pearsall
35 11/09/44 Saarbrucken Pearsall
36 11/25/44 Merseburg Blair

 

 


Some photos/information provided by:

  • Mr. Rob Kirkwood
  • Mr. Gerrett Hillery
  • Mr. Mark McDermott