B-17G-90-BO 43-38524
710th SQ — S
rare color photograph, taken at Rattlesden in the summer of 1945 by 3rd Air Division staff photographer, Mark Brown. Note 77 mission marks (photos of nose at 40, 60, 65 and 72 missions below)
B-17G-90-BO 43-37869 was completed in the Seattle plant on August 12, 1944, and was assigned to the 710th Bomb Squadron, 447th Bomb Group, on September 17. After the loss of 43-37869 Blonde Bomber, this aircraft assumed the name Blonde Bomber II.
Flight listings for 43-38524
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 |
| #151 (28-Sep-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Wilder, W. M. |
|
| #152 (02-Oct-44) |
Kassel, Germany |
Henningsen, E. L. |
|
| #153 (03-Oct-44) |
Giebelstadt, Germany |
Wunderling, G. |
|
| #156 (07-Oct-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
McDermott, D. L. |
|
| #157 (09-Oct-44) |
Gustavsburg, Germany |
Dean, R. A. |
|
| #158 (12-Oct-44) |
Bremen, Germany |
Henningsen, E. L. |
|
| #159 (14-Oct-44) |
Cologne, Germany |
Johnson, R. E. |
|
| #160 (15-Oct-44) |
Cologne, Germany |
Henningsen, E. L. |
|
| #162 (18-Oct-44) |
Kassel, Germany |
Schneider, R. W. |
Leaflets / Mag flares |
| #163 (19-Oct-44) |
Mannheim, Germany |
King, M. S. |
|
| #165 (25-Oct-44) |
Harburg, Germany |
McDermott, D. L. |
|
| #167 (30-Oct-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
McDermott, D. L. |
|
| #169 (02-Nov-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
McDermott, D. L. |
|
| #175 (16-Nov-44) |
Duren, Germany |
Hight, J. R. |
Landed at Welford Park |
| #176 (21-Nov-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Hight, J. R. |
|
| #178 (26-Nov-44) |
Hamm, Germany |
Lovett, J. M. |
|
| #179 (27-Nov-44) |
Bingen, Germany |
Jepsen, C. H. |
Target of Opp |
| #180 (30-Nov-44) |
Lutzkendorf, Germany |
Myers, P. G. |
|
| #181 (04-Dec-44) |
Mainz, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #182 (06-Dec-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #184 (11-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Armstrong, I. V. |
Spare replaced Chandler in #016 |
| #185 (12-Dec-44) |
Darmstadt, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #187 (18-Dec-44) |
Mainz, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #188 (24-Dec-44) |
Babenhausen, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #189 (28-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #190 (30-Dec-44) |
Mannheim, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #191 (31-Dec-44) |
Wenzendorf, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #192 (01-Jan-45) |
Dollberg, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #193 (02-Jan-45) |
Nalbach, Germany |
Chandler, H. D. |
|
| #194 (03-Jan-45) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Minker, R. L. |
|
| #195 (05-Jan-45) |
Waxweiler, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #196 (06-Jan-45) |
Worms, Germany |
Pearsall, E. M. |
|
| #198 (08-Jan-45) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #199 (10-Jan-45) |
Karlsruhe, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
Landed at Raydam |
| #200 (13-Jan-45) |
Mainz, Germany |
McClanahan, M. R. |
|
| #201 (14-Jan-45) |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Jessen, H. F. |
|
| #202 (15-Jan-45) |
Augsburg, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #203 (16-Jan-45) |
Dessau, Germany |
Dewey, R. J. |
Leaflets; Landed at Lindholme |
| #204 (20-Jan-45) |
Heilbronn, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #206 (29-Jan-45) |
Kassel, Germany |
Blecha, M. K. |
|
| #207 (01-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Coleman, R. |
|
| #208 (03-Feb-45) |
Berlin, Germany |
Shepard, C. R. |
|
| #212 (15-Feb-45) |
Cottbus, Germany |
Hampton, M. C. |
|
| #213 (16-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Hampton, M. C. |
|
| #214 (19-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Wagner, K. J. |
Chaff ship |
| #215 (20-Feb-45) |
Nurnberg, Germany |
Beighley, W. L. |
|
| #216 (22-Feb-45) |
Aalen, Germany |
Johnson, S. K. |
PFF |
| #218 (24-Feb-45) |
Bremen, Germany |
Russell, J. L. |
|
| #219 (25-Feb-45) |
Neuberg, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #220 (26-Feb-45) |
Berlin, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #221 (27-Feb-45) |
Leipzig, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #225 (07-Mar-45) |
Datteln-Emscher Lippe, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #226 (08-Mar-45) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Blecha, M. K. |
slated #194 |
| #227 (09-Mar-45) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Shepard, C. R. |
|
| #229 (11-Mar-45) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #230 (12-Mar-45) |
Marburg, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #231 (14-Mar-45) |
Hannover, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #233 (17-Mar-45) |
Ruhland, Germany |
Baird, J. T. |
|
| #234 (18-Mar-45) |
Berlin, Germany |
Beighley, W. L. |
|
| #235 (19-Mar-45) |
Zwickau, Germany |
Beighley, W. L. |
|
| #236 (20-Mar-45) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Beighley, W. L. |
|
| #237 (21-Mar-45) |
Wittmundhafen, Germany |
Haynes, E. F. |
ABORT #2 Eng failure |
| #239 (23-Mar-45) |
Holzwickede, Germany |
Wolf, G. P. |
|
| #240 (24-Mar-45) |
Varrelsbusch, Germany |
Beighley, W. L. |
|
| #241 (28-Mar-45) |
Hannover, Germany |
Haynes, E. F. |
|
| #245 (04-Apr-45) |
Kiel, Germany |
Russell, W. G. |
|
| #246 (05-Apr-45) |
Nuremberg, Germany |
Shepard, C. R. |
|
| #247 (07-Apr-45) |
Schwerin, Germany |
Coleman, R. |
|
| #249 (09-Apr-45) |
Neuburg, Germany |
Lustig, C. H. |
|
| #250 (10-Apr-45) |
Brandenburg, Germany |
Lustig, C. H. |
|
| #251 (11-Apr-45) |
Ingolstadt, Germany |
Montague, F.O. |
Cameraman |
| #252 (14-Apr-45) |
Royan, France |
Lustig, C. H. |
|
| #253 (15-Apr-45) |
Royan, France |
Lustig, C. H. |
|
| #254 (16-Apr-45) |
Royan, France |
Lustig, C. H. |
|
| #255 (17-Apr-45) |
Dresden, Germany |
Lustig, C. H. |
Leaflets |
| #257 (20-Apr-45) |
Neuruppin, Germany |
Lustig, C. H. |
cameraman |
| #258 (21-Apr-45) |
Inglostadt, [Germany] |
Lustig, C. H. |
|
Blonde Bomber II with 40 mission marks
Blonde Bomber II with 60 mission marks
Blonde Bomber II with 65 mission marks
Blonde Bomber II with 72 mission marks
Covered in snow
Blond Bomber II was featured in the painting “Return to Rattlesden” by Nicolas Trudjian.
Also on the Color Collection page
See also: 43-37869 Blonde Bomber
Combat Missions (previously compiled)
Blonde Bomber II is generally credited with 75 combat missions, and her post-war photo (above) shows 77 mission tallies. From available records, we’ve been able to identify the following 73 missions.
| No |
DATE |
TARGET |
PILOT |
| 1 |
10/02/44 |
Kassel |
Henningsen |
| 2 |
10/03/44 |
Gilberstadt |
Wunderling |
| 3 |
10/07/44 |
Merseburg |
McDermott |
| 4 |
10/09/44 |
Gustavsburg |
Dean |
| 5 |
10/12/44 |
Bremen |
Henningsen |
| 6 |
10/14/44 |
Cologne |
Johnson |
| 7 |
10/15/44 |
Cologne |
Henningsen |
| 8 |
10/19/44 |
Mannheim |
King |
| 9 |
10/25/44 |
Harburg |
McDermott |
| 10 |
10/30/44 |
Merseburg |
McDermott |
| 11 |
11/02/44 |
Merseburg |
McDermott |
| 12 |
11/16/44 |
Duren Area |
Hight |
| 13 |
11/21/44 |
Koblenz |
Hight |
| 14 |
11/26/44 |
Hamm |
Lovett |
| 15 |
11/27/44 |
Bingen |
Jepson |
| 16 |
11/30/44 |
Lutzkendorf |
Myers |
| 17 |
12/04/44 |
Mainz |
Pearsall |
| 18 |
12/06/44 |
Merseburg |
Pearsall |
| 19 |
12/11/44 |
Koblenz/Giessen |
Armstrong |
| 20 |
12/12/44 |
Dormstadt |
Pearsall |
| 21 |
12/18/44 |
Mainz |
Pearsall |
| 22 |
12/24/44 |
Babenhausen |
Pearsall |
| 23 |
12/28/44 |
Koblenz |
Pearsall |
| 24 |
12/30/44 |
Mannheim |
Pearsall |
| 25 |
12/31/44 |
Wenzendorf – Stade |
Pearsall |
| 26 |
01/01/45 |
Dollbergen |
Pearsall |
| 27 |
01/02/45 |
Nalbach-Neunkirchen |
Chandler |
| 28 |
01/03/45 |
Koblenz |
Minker |
| 29 |
01/05/45 |
Waxweiler |
Pearsall |
| 30 |
01/06/45 |
Worms |
Pearsall |
| 31 |
01/08/45 |
Frankfurt |
Baird |
| 32 |
01/10/45 |
Karlsruhe |
Baird |
| 33 |
01/13/45 |
Mainz |
McClanahan |
| 34 |
01/14/45 |
Madgeburg |
Jessen |
| 35 |
01/16/45 |
Dessau |
Dewey |
| 36 |
01/20/45 |
Heilbronn |
Baird |
| 37 |
01/29/45 |
Kassel |
Blecha |
| 38 |
02/03/45 |
Berlin |
Shepard |
| 39 |
02/16/45 |
Wesel & Rheine |
Hampton |
| 40 |
02/18/45 |
Wesel |
Wagner |
| 41 |
02/20/45 |
Nurnburg |
Beighley |
| 42 |
02/22/45 |
Aalen |
Johnson |
| 43 |
02/24/45 |
Bremen |
Russell |
| 44 |
02/25/45 |
Neuberg |
Baird |
| 45 |
02/26/45 |
Berlin |
Reck |
| 46 |
02/27/45 |
Leipzig |
Baird |
| 47 |
03/07/45 |
Datteln |
Baird |
| 48 |
03/08/45 |
Frankfurt |
Blecha |
| 49 |
03/09/45 |
Frankfurt |
Shepard |
| 50 |
03/11/45 |
Hamburg |
Baird |
| 51 |
03/12/45 |
Marburg |
Baird |
| 52 |
03/13/45 |
Hanover |
Baird |
| 53 |
03/15/45 |
Oranienburg |
Shepard |
| 54 |
03/17/45 |
Ruhland |
Baird |
| 55 |
03/18/45 |
Berlin |
Beighley |
| 56 |
03/19/45 |
Zwickau |
Beighley |
| 57 |
03/20/45 |
Hamburg |
Beighley |
| 58 |
03/21/45 |
Wittmundhaven |
Haynes |
| 59 |
03/23/45 |
Holzwickede |
Wolf |
| 60 |
03/24/45 |
Varrelbusch |
Beighley |
| 61 |
03/28/45 |
Hanover |
Hayes |
| 62 |
04/04/45 |
Kiel |
Russell |
| 63 |
04/05/45 |
Nurnburg |
Shepard |
| 64 |
04/07/45 |
Schwerin |
Coleman |
| 65 |
04/09/45 |
Newburg A/F |
Lustig |
| 66 |
04/10/45 |
Brandenburg |
Lustig |
| 67 |
04/11/45 |
Inglostadt A/F |
Montague |
| 68 |
04/14/45 |
Royan Area |
Lustig |
| 69 |
04/15/45 |
Royan Area |
Lustig |
| 70 |
04/16/45 |
Royan Area |
Lustig |
| 71 |
04/17/45 |
Dresden |
Lustig |
| 72 |
04/20/45 |
Neuruppin |
Lustig |
| 73 |
04/21/45 |
Inglostadt |
Lustig |
Blonde Bomber II completed her tour and returned to the US in July 1945. She was scrapped at Kingman in 1946.
Some photos/information provided by:
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database
