Warbird Information Exchange

Per J Baugher:
(11th BG, 42nd BSm "Bessie, Japanese Basher") shot down Sep 24, 1942 after raid to Shortlands. Ditched in 30 m of water. Complete minus tail section. Crew executed by Japanese. Aircraft remains were still extant in 1997. MACR 15098.

Per Pacific Wrecks: https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2420.html
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2231. On November 17, 1941 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2420. The same day flown to Salt Lake City and three days later flown to McClellan Airfield to Sacramento Air Depot (SAD).

Wartime History
Assigned to the 50th Reconnaissance Squadron (50th RS). Painted in the Hawaiian Air Depot (HAD) three color camouflage scheme consisting of dark green, olive drab and tan upper surfaces with standard gray lower surfaces at Hickam Field.

On December 15, 1941 assigned to the 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 42nd Bombardment Squadron (42nd BS). This bomber was dispersed to Kahuku Airfield on Oahu. On July 22, 1942 flown overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC) to Espiritu Santo then to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Nicknamed "Bessie, Japanese Basher" or "Bessie The Japanese Basher".

Mission History
On September 24, 1942 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt Charles E. Norton as one of four B-17s on a bombing mission against Japanese shipping off Shortland Island and Tonolei Harbor on southern Bougainville. Over the target, approximately twenty Japanese Zeros made determined attacks against the formation from the front and both beams. Two of the attackers were claimed as shot down and another probably damaged. Despite the attacks, this B-17 dropped its bombs on a cargo vessel, which they claimed "took on a decided list" indicating it might have been hit.

Damaged by gunfire, this B-17 was last seen descending smoking with fighters in pursuit. Flying at sea level, this B-17 managed to fly back towards Guadalcanal before ditching into Domo Cove (Domma Cove, Ndomo Cove). When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). This bomber was officially condemned on October 8, 1944.

Fates of the Crew
At least two of the crew Norton and Osborne survived the ditching and managed to swim ashore. Neither was officially reported as Prisoners Of War (POW) of the Japanese, but this was not uncommon for Allies captured in forward areas.

Osborne reached the shore but might have drown or been killed by the Japanese and his body buried or abandoned.

Norton managed to reach shore and captured by the Japanese Army. On September 30, 1942 the Aoba Battalion, Takeda Unit commanded by 1st Lt Yoshi Takeda that claimed a prisoner "died as [he] reached the place" this might mean he was injured and died in transit or is a euphemism that meant he was executed. His remains have never been recovered and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

The fates of the other seven are unknown. All remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Pilot 1st Lt Charles E. Norton, O-416333 (POW died September 30, 1942, MIA / KIA, BNR) Harpswell, ME
Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Bruce B. S. Barker, O-428793 (MIA / KIA) Saskatoon, Canada
Navigator 1st Lt. Leo M. Eminger, O-388557 Upton, NM (MIA / KIA) Albuquerque, NM
Bombardier Sgt James "Buster" R. Mathewson, 16028061 (MIA / KIA) Durand, MI
Radio SSgt Peter F. Novak, 6897614 (MIA / KIA) PA
Gunner SSgt William L. Hotard, 6296361 (MIA / KIA) TX
Lower Turret Gunner SSgt Fred S. Croyle, 6845914 (MIA / KIA) Somerset County, PA
Gunner Sgt Bruce W. Osborne, 7082892 (MIA / KIA, BR) Sparta, NC
Gunner Pfc Edward A. Carroll, 6979511 (MIA / KIA) Brooklyn, NY

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/190519

Below Boeing B-17E 41-2420 at North Island HI 1942.

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Thanks for posting those Mark. Those are the first photos I've seen of that particular plane. Unfortunately the best one is already out of my price range, five days before the eBay auction ends!

I have a few comments - I believe that 41-2420 was named Bessie the J*p Basher - the asterisk represents the letter "a" of course. Unfortunately no photo of the name on the nose has been found. We live in hope.

41-2420 was with the 50th Recon Squadron until after the end of January 1942. It was damaged landing on Palmyra on January 16, and remained there for quite a while. At that stage it had the red-centered cocardes and red and white tail stripes.

Unclear when it got back to Hawaii, but was in the 42nd Bomb Squadron by July 1942. Anyway, I believe that darker paint visible at the base of the tail and on the rudder may be related to repairs made following the Palmyra accident, which reportedly "tore off the tail gunner's section".

I believe that the Hawaiian Air Depot scheme usually involved four colors on the upper surfaces - the original OD, sand, rust and a blue-gray.

The airstrip in the photos could be Kahuku.

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www.B17BlackJack.com

Great to hear from you Steve. I’m always on the lookout for early war B-17’s for you. Greatly appreciate your knowledge and research. The early war years 1939 to 1942 have always fascinated me. These were the years when the Allied combatants were really against the ropes IMHO.

There’s so many stories both heroic and tragic that took place early on in the war that most people today know very little to nothing about. It seems every time I find a photo of an early model B-17E and start to do some amateur research I find stories that are both heartbreaking and heroic.

My wish is that somehow we as enthusiasts, historians, teachers, pilots or what-have-you will never stop researching and sharing what we find and/or know with anyone who will listen. These heroes from long ago wars must not be forgotten or discredited. Their stories still need to be researched and shared. Especially in today’s world with the younger generations.

I think we’ve lost a collective sense of direction and understanding in what it means and what it takes to put the needs of the many ahead of the desires of the one. Freedom isn’t free, and without the many many sacrifices of those early war heroes many of us may have never known what true freedom means.

We can never give these heroes enough attention and we can never forget them.

Thanks Steve for what you do.

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Thanks for finding those, Mark! The same seller has a couple of B-18 photos. This is the better of the two.

1942 WWII US Army CA GI's Hawaii photo N. Shore Oahu airstrip 1 by Richard Connell, on Flickr

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I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Since yall seem like the picture gurus, I have a question. Maybe I'm remembering wrong or confusing incidents by adding several pictures into one in my mind.

Some years back, I seem to recall seeing a picture of a Bomber crash (Possibly Hawaii) and the aircraft appeared to be mostly intact and sitting on top of the tree canopy.

I have looked several times over the years and my Google-fu has failed me. So does this sound familiar or is my mind just making things up....? It's not the Swamp Ghost or the Black Cat Pass birds!

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Mike in Florida
TSgt USAF Retired
Jan 86 - Sept 08
Aircrew Life Support
"Your Life Is Our Business"
(122X0, 1T1X1, 1P0X1)
NRA Life Member

You're thinking of B-18, s/n 36-446. A quick Google search with those keywords will find you a bunch more information, but here's a Pacific Wrecks page to get you started: B-18 Bolo Serial Number 36-446 Tail 50R 81

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Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

Thank you for sorting this out for me. I thought it was a B-18. I think the confusion was the condition as seen in most pictures. I seem to remember (Maybe erroneously) a picture of it more complete.

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Mike in Florida
TSgt USAF Retired
Jan 86 - Sept 08
Aircrew Life Support
"Your Life Is Our Business"
(122X0, 1T1X1, 1P0X1)
NRA Life Member

Yes, one of the owners of the land where the B-18 rests is a member here (ypochris) and has posted about its status now and then. The NMUSAF has removed the plane's nose and dorsal turrets and other parts (IIRC for the Castle Museum's B-18 and the B-18A in Dayton).

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Has anybody made a scuba dive on that B-17 ?

Lucky52, at least 2 folks have and probably more as it was a relatively easy dive offshore about 60 feet at 60 ft. depth, once the travel to the location is negated. Since 2009 due to flood or tides it has shifted. On the Pacific Wrecks link Mark provided the "Bessie" page refers to one diver, Jeff Johnson.
Another diver and writer, Australasian resident Michael McFadyen has posted some photos(from '92) and history at the following link...
http://www.michaelmcfadyenscuba.info/vi ... age_id=380

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

A little off topic, but the subject of that Hawaiian Air Depot camouflage continues to intrigue me.

Another B-17E that almost certainly displayed it was 41-2443, the 42nd Bomb Squadron plane that crashed into Mount Keahiakahoe on the night of April 5, 1942. As far as I know, the only photos of 41-2443 are the pre-Hawaii Boeing publicity shots.

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www.B17BlackJack.com

Thanks airnutz,that was fascinating.

Hi Steve,

Sorry to have been out of touch for so long!

You and I and a handful of others have been on the trail of this scheme for well over 40 years now. My latest thinking is that I screwed up when I tentatively named this the Hawaiian Air Depot Scheme. While records suggested that all of these aircraft spent some time at HAD after Japan attacked, I now suspect that the scheme was developed (and possibly applied) by Corps of Engineers units using Engineer paints. The Engineers were responsible for ground-based camouflages, and there are a number of instances where they carried that mission as far as aircraft paint.

Just before the Archives closed two years ago I started digging through the records of Hawaii-based Engineer units. I hadn't gotten too far, but I have something to share with you that might be useful. If you get a chance, please drop me an e-mail.

Cheers,



Dana
danabell@earthlink.net

Steve or Dana,are you documenting the B-17s you find with a camo paint job and if you are how many have you found ? Sounds interesting.Thanks.

What I find unusual about the pics of his B-17E is that the red centers appear to be painted out, yet there seems to be no corresponding tail tripes painted out with an OD color as was the usual practice.