B-17G-95-BO 43-38731
711th SQ — O

Named by the cast of the London production of Noel Coward’s “Blythe Spirit,” appearing at Rattlesden in October 1944.

The censors working in reverse? photo looks to have been altered while developing to enhance the name.
Flight listings for 43-38731
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 |
#26 (03-Mar-44) |
Berlin, Germany |
Zeig, R. J. |
PFF #731, Zeig CP2x 731 |
#163 (19-Oct-44) |
Mannheim, Germany |
Graves, P. A. |
ABORTEngine rough |
#164 (22-Oct-44) |
Munster, Germany |
McMath, R. |
|
#166 (26-Oct-44) |
Hanover, Germany |
McMath, R. |
|
#167 (30-Oct-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
#169 (02-Nov-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
McMath, R. |
|
#171 (05-Nov-44) |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
#172 (06-Nov-44) |
Neumunster, Germany |
Neal, A. M. |
|
#174 (11-Nov-44) |
Oberlahnstein, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
#175 (16-Nov-44) |
Duren, Germany |
McMath, R. |
Landed at Welford Park |
#176 (21-Nov-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Poynor, R. E. |
|
#177 (25-Nov-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
Target of Opp |
#178 (26-Nov-44) |
Hamm, Germany |
Josephson, H. C. |
|
#179 (27-Nov-44) |
Bingen, Germany |
Josephson, H. C. |
|
#180 (30-Nov-44) |
Lutzkendorf, Germany |
Hodge, L. T. |
|
#181 (04-Dec-44) |
Mainz, Germany |
Rohde, E. M |
|
#182 (06-Dec-44) |
Merseburg, Germany |
Clawson, O. R. |
|
#183 (10-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Herring, D. A. |
|
#184 (11-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Poynor, R. E. |
|
#185 (12-Dec-44) |
Darmstadt, Germany |
Jessen, H. F. |
Cameraman (42-30731 was PFF-Q) |
#186 (15-Dec-44) |
Hannover, Germany |
Hodge, L. T. |
|
#187 (18-Dec-44) |
Mainz, Germany |
Poynor, R. E. |
|
#189 (28-Dec-44) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Rohde, E. M |
|
#190 (30-Dec-44) |
Mannheim, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
#191 (31-Dec-44) |
Wenzendorf, Germany |
White, W. A. |
|
#192 (01-Jan-45) |
Dollberg, Germany |
Hodge, L. T. |
|
#194 (03-Jan-45) |
Koblenz, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
#195 (05-Jan-45) |
Waxweiler, Germany |
Malone, E. G. |
ABORT Sick person (Leaflets) |
#196 (06-Jan-45) |
Worms, Germany |
Tetreault, E. E. J. |
|
#197 (07-Jan-45) |
Paderborn, Germany |
Clawson, O. R. |
|
#198 (08-Jan-45) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
Poynor, R. E. |
|
#201 (14-Jan-45) |
Magdeburg, Germany |
Thompson, R. H. |
|
#202 (15-Jan-45) |
Augsburg, Germany |
Armstrong, I. V. |
|
#203 (16-Jan-45) |
Dessau, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
Landed at Sandtoft |
#204 (20-Jan-45) |
Heilbronn, Germany |
Jessen, H. F. |
|
#206 (29-Jan-45) |
Kassel, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
#207 (01-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Hodge, L. T. |
ABORT #2 Super out |
#209 (06-Feb-45) |
Chemnitz, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
#211 (14-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Quist, C. G. |
|
#212 (15-Feb-45) |
Cottbus, Germany |
Jessen, H. F. |
|
#213 (16-Feb-45) |
Wesel, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
#216 (22-Feb-45) |
Aalen, Germany |
Neal, A. M. |
|
#218 (24-Feb-45) |
Bremen, Germany |
Baker, J. G. |
|
#219 (25-Feb-45) |
Neuberg, Germany |
Neal, G. G. |
|
#221 (27-Feb-45) |
Leipzig, Germany |
Wagner, K. J. |
Failed to T/O |
#223 (02-Mar-45) |
Dresden, Germany |
Wright, T. G. |
|
#228 (10-Mar-45) |
Dortmund, Germany |
Thompson, R. H. |
|
#229 (11-Mar-45) |
Hamburg, Germany |
Bruckman, C. H. |
|
#231 (14-Mar-45) |
Hannover, Germany |
Chandler, H. D. |
|
#232 (15-Mar-45) |
Oranienburg, Germany |
Jessen, H. F. |
|
Lost over Oranienburg, March 15, 1945, with the following crew aboard (Marked on Load List as MIA)
Lt Harluf T Jessen |
Pilot |
Lt Robert P Dwight |
Co-Pilot |
Lt Walter A Hoffman |
Navigator |
Sgt Harry E Pfautz |
Bombardier |
S/Sgt Karl R Laubhan |
Top Turret |
S/Sgt Richard A Kiedrowski |
Radio Operator |
Sgt Helmer W Gangestad |
Ball Turret |
Sgt Claude A Gatlin |
WG |
Sgt Edward Evans |
Tail Gunner |
Sgt Campbell |
S-J |

Henningsen crew with Blythe Spirit

Photo before February 1945
Some photos/information provided by: