The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Hell's Angels' at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine, while en route with their B-17s to their operating base at (RAF) Station Molesworth in England during World War II. Airmen work on a parked Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Names and artwork on the B-17s: 'Zombie - Dopey', 'Rim Fire Renner', 'Jerry Jinx', 'Lost and Found Department', 'Hostess wanted' , 'Nancy' , 'Sky Wolf,' 'Thumper', 'Idaho Potato Peeler'. Pilots look skyward. Note: From Brian O’Neill’s “303rd Bombardment Group” here is reported fate of some of the named planes: “Zombie” 41-24566, pilot: O.S. Witt, fate: MIA 20 Dec 42 “Jerry Jinx” 41-24607, pilot: E.H. Reber, fate: MIA 23 Jan 43 “Sky Wolf” 41-24562, pilot: C.H. Morales, fate: MIA 11 Jan 44 “Thumper” 41-24579, pilot: J.E. Castle, fate: crash landed UK 23 Jan 43 “Idaho Potato Peeler” 41-24565, pilot: R.C. Bales, fate: MIA 5 Nov 43
World War II. B-17s of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Hell's Angels' staging at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine, on their way to their base at RAF Station Molesworth, in England. Airmen work on a parked Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Names and nose art on the B-17s: Art work on nose, body, and tail art reveal aircraft names like: 'Perk the Jerk', 'Gunnin for Marijane' under the dorsal turret, 'Duke of Paducah', 'Klee's Lounge', 'Kiler Kilgore', 'Hell Cat', 'The 8 Ball', 'The Duchess', 'One 'o' Clock Jump', 'The Devil Himself' under the aircraft nose, 'Bad Check', 'Delta Rebel No. 2', 'Knock-Out Dropper', 'Sky Club' and 'Continental' on propellers, 'Wild Bill' on a nose, 'Pepper Box' under a dorsal turret, 'Wee Willie Woo', 'Hornet's Nest', 'Lady Fairweather', 'Margaret - M' under a dorsal turret, 'Canuck' on a nose, 'Squirt' and 'Maggie' on propellers, 'Mimi' on a nose. A B-17 called 'The Green Hornet'. Two airmen stand under the aircraft. 'Yahoodi' with 'Si the Gonuf' made on an aircraft. Note: From Brian O’Neill’s “303rd Bombardment Group” here is the fate of the name ships in this film. “Hell Cat” 41-24580, pilot: T.O. O’Connor, fate: MIA 23 Jan 43 “The 8 Ball” 41-24581, pilot: W.R. Calhoun, fate: C/L UK 20 Dec 43 “The Duchess” 41-24561, pilot: H.L. Stouse, fate: ret USA, 7 Jul 44 “One O’Clock Jump” 41-24582, pilot: W.N. Frost, fate: MIA 12 Dec 42 “The Devil Himself” 41-24612, pilot: R.S. Hayes, fate: ret USA 20 Dec 44 “Bad Check” 41-24587, pilot: B.B. Southworth Jr., fate: MIA 11 Jan 44 “Knockout Dropper” 41-24605, pilot: J. Rolle, fate: ret USA 27 Mar 44 “Lady Fairweather” 41-24568, pilot: A.R. Redding, fate: MIA 23 Nov 42 “The Green Hornet” 41-24603, pilot: E.J. Sanderson, fate: MIA 23 Nov 42 “Yehudi” 41-24608, pilot: F.A. Saunders, fate MIA 3 Jan 43 (Also seen is a 91at Bomb Group B-17:“Delta Rebel No. 2” 42-5077, pilot: Lt Birdsong, fate: MIA 12 Aug 43. It is seen because the 91st BG was passing through Dow Field at the same time, during deployment to England.)
World War Two. U.S. B-17 bombers of the 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Hell's Angels' depart from Dow Field in Bangor, Maine to begin a transatlantic flight to their base at RAF Station Molesworth, in England. Airmen work on a parkedB-17 Flying Fortress. Names and artwork on the B-17s. One called 'Texas Wreck'. One with 'Cozza's Pent House' written near the cockpit. Other Flying Fortresses called 'Leapin Liz;' 'Jo;' 'Gretchen;' 'Frances;' and 'Daisy June' written on the propellers. Several pilots and crew men stand near a B-17. The copilot (Paul Bouton, Jr) in the 'Leapin Liz' cockpit, Three B-l7s taking off. The Flying fortresses including 'Garbage' in flight. ( Note: Brian O’Neill’s “303rd Bombardment Group” tells fate of some of the name ships in these scenes: 41-24526 is“Leaping Liz” , pilot: J.B. Clark, fate: MIA 3 Jan 43 41-24582 is “One O’Clock Jump”, pilot: W.N. Frost, fate: MIA 12 Dec 42 41-24580 is “Hell Cat”, pilot: O.T. O’Connor, fate: MIA 23 Jan 43 41-24526 is “Leaping’ Liz”, pilot: J.B. Clark, fate: MIA 3 Jan 43 41-24563 is “Garbage” , pilot: A.I. Adams, fate: forced landing and collisions 11 Nov 43)
The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Hell's Angels' based at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Station Molesworth in England during World War II. USAAF Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses in flight through clouds. The aircraft propellers and wing span. The B-17s in flight over the English Channel coast. The aircraft in flight over land and water. The B-17s in flight over an air base. Hangars and other buildings at the air base.
The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Hell's Angels' based at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Station Molesworth in England during World War II. The English Channel, coast and land seen from a USAAF Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. The Molesworth Airfield. Hangars, other buildings, runways, military vehicles and soldiers at the base. Aircraft parked in and around hangars. Three British soldiers beside a machine gun on a tripod. One soldier points upward. Hangars and barracks at the base. Quonset huts.
The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) 'Hell's Angels' based at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Station Molesworth in England during World War II. A windsock flies with the wind. U.S. Army Air Force airmen work on the engine of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Several B-17s parked at the Airfield. Military jeeps around the aircraft. Two B-17s taxi along. They pass several other parked Flying Fortresses. The aircraft take off.