I found this picture on e bay. Anyone know anything about the circumstances of this B 17's demise? I wonder if any crew members are still alive? eBay: Orig.Foto Flugzeug Amer.4 Mot.Bomber B17F,Paddy Gremlin (Artikel 270119750823 endet 19.05.07 12:29:59 MESZ)
3325 (379th BG, 524th BS, "Paddy Gremlin") struck by bomb dropped from higher aircraft during mission Jan 30, 1944 and crashlanded near Belian border. Crew unhurt until strafted on ground by German fighter, presumably to stop them from setting fire to aircraft, wounding two seriously and six slightly. http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/1942_1.html Charmed life: Cached page with some info but sadly no pictures. In the darkest days of the 8th Air Force’s bomber offensive there were individual aircraft that inspired confidence in their crews. One was the 524th Bomb Squadron’s Paddy Gremlin, received by the Squadron in June 1943 and apparently named by the ground crew. By August, when taken over by Lt. Arvid O. Dahl’s crew, this B-17F had already survived a few costly missions. The going was to get even tougher, for Paddy Gremlin took the Dahl crew to Schweinfurt and back safely on 17 August and again to the same target on the infamous 14 October mission. That day, when 60 B-17’s were lost, Paddy Gremlin was one of only two 379th Bomb Group aircraft that landed back at Kimbolton – even if it was down-wind. As its navigator, Lt. Connie Anszperger, remarked ‘After that we all felt the plane had a charmed life’. Paddy Gremlin continued to evade the work of flak and fighters. Then, on 30 January 1944, in the hands of Lt. Kenneth Davis’s crew, it was struck by a bomb dropped by an aircraft higher in the formation. With the No. 3 engine crippled, and despite efforts to keep up with the formation, the bomber lost height and was eventually forced to crash-land near the Belgian border. The crew were unharmed until an enemy fighter strafed the aircraft, wounding two men seriously and six slightly. The reason for this action was, the survivors believed, to prevent them setting fire to the wrecked aircraft. The photograph shows the navigator, Lt. Constant Anszperger, with an A-2 jacket displaying fifteen missions in Paddy Gremlin. (Constant Anszperger). B-17F Paddy Gremlin on hardstanding No. 3 on the first loop cluster to the east of runway 21 bordering the railway line at Kimbolton. ‘WA’ identified the 524th Bomb Squadron: ‘Y’ was the individual plane-in-squadron letter and radio call (‘Y-Yoke’); ‘23325’ was the concise version of the serial number, 42-3325; and the triangle was the 1st Bomb Division
Seems that this wasn't the only "Paddy Gremlin": Upon base again, we learned that "Paddy Gremlin" (42-29972) was damaged by falling debris from the collision and crash-landed at Polegate. Three of the crew bailed out over the channel and drowned. Pilot Lt. Jess D. Rogers, 322nd Sq. and 4 of the crew died in the crash. Pieces of Nostalgia - 91st BG Stories
Yea I found that too. But the Mrs. came home and well...........you know the rest of the story. Glad I am not the only one who couldn't make the pictures work.
I just came from an air show at Gig Harbor WA, and one of the pilots of Paddy Gremlin was there. His name is Arvid Dahl he is now 91. He flew the Paddy Gremlin during the 14 October 1943 mission over Schweinfurt when 60 B-17's were lost. His was one of two crews of the 379th Bomber group that made it back to England. What an honor it is to meet men like him. David if you purchased the photo I would be more than happy to have him sign it for you.
That aircraft and crew went through so much. To get through all that and then be strafed. Thanks for the info guys.