B-17 Our Gal Sal 100th BG

[Sgt13Echo]

Tonight, my wife and I stopped by my buddies house for a few mintues. He showed me his fathers pictures, medals, and other very cool items. His father, Donald Fagen is in the back row, second from the right in the picture of Our Gal Sal. He served as a tailgunner on the B-17 Our Gal Sal that was with the 100th BG, and he is also the uncle to Ron Fagen of Fagen Fighters. (http://www.fagenfighters.com/pilot.html).

I told him that he should share this with the rest of the world because he has some photographs that no one else has seen and it would make a lot of people really happy and possibly a family member might see a picture of their family member('s) and aircraft that served with their family members. He was all for it, and even open to loaning it to his uncle Ron Fagen for his museum. He also said it would alright for me to take a photograph with my iPhone and post them here for others to see. I told him there are a lot of enthusiast that might provide more information or history about these planes and the Bomb Group or Swuadron that would help him accelerate his research.


I have seen this on the internet regarding Our Gal Sal
http://www2.needham.k12.ma.us/nhs/cur/wwii/05/p2-05/brooke-jb-p2-05/A_B-17_Hero.html
http://www.war44.com/allied-bomber-planes/512-b17s-their-history.html
http://seanlinnane.blogspot.com/2010/11/our-gal-sal.html

Here are a few pictures from my buddies collection.

Last edited by Sgt13Echo on Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Proulx]

I have studied Our Gal Sal for many years having provided research material for Robert Baileys painting of this aircraft. Sadly, the aircraft was scrapped at Kingman at the end of hostilities.

The original pilot, Bob Shoens, remains alive and well and he took "Sal" on the 100th BG epic raid to Berlin in March 1944. He went on to finish his tour, completing most of his missions in this aircraft.

The photo of "Sal" shown here portrays the Jack L. Gay Crew. Needless to say, the aircraft features prominently in the story of the 100th BG. You may wish to visit there website.

Did he have any other photos of "Sal" or the 100th BG which you could share?

Mark Proulx

[Sgt13Echo]

Mark,

Yes, he had several others and I will ask him to scan them in so they can be shared. There are also quite a few pictures from various positions taken during flight of other planes in formation. Also, a lot of pictures of the crew members horsing around on base.

Thanks for the tip on the 100th BG site, I see Our Gal Sal here.
http://www.100thbg.com/mainmenus/351st/351st_main.htm

I also ran across this, the mission log:
http://www.usaaf-noseart.co.uk/misslist-231767.htm

Site dedicated to Our Gal Sal
http://ourgalsal.com/crew.php

Mark, here she is at Kingman like you said... Very sad!
http://www.ww2incolor.com/colorizations/Our+Gal+Sal_color.html

[Mark Proulx]

Hello again:

If I may be so bold as to ask that should you be able to get hi-res scans of the 100th BG photos that I can get copies, especially those of Our Gal Sal.

BTW, much of what you read about the appearance of "Sal" is incorrect. This I believe due to a mis-identification of a photo from the unit history book, Century Bombers.

My e-mail is:

Proulxm@shaw.ca

Mark Proulx

[Sgt13Echo]

Mark,

Thanks for the update! I have sent Darin an message an a link to this post. He is very interested in know more about his fathers group, plane and service.

Mike