eyedocjones
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David P. Jones
Hi Jim,
I'm new to the website and thought I might glean some info about my B-17 pilot father who was with the 8th AAF. He flew 25 missions out of England approx. 1944, flight jacket has a skull, helmet with feathers, and a bomb. It would be nice to know where they flew from and sq number. I have photos of crew in front of "Arkansas Rambler"(2854) and "Full House"(9929).
Thanx, Ken
PS David P. Jones, Jr DOB 11-21-20
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jtennet
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Ken, There was an Arkansas Rambler that flew with the 96th BG (Heavy) out of Snetterton Heath but there isn't a squadron patch that matches your description. Also one out of 92nd BG Poddington but again, no patch. The 95th Bomb Group (Medium) does have such a patch but that was a group of Martin Marauders. So, I am not having a lot of luck here. Does the patch look anything like the one second from the left in the picture? If so, that is the 533rd Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, Station 167, Ridgewell.
Attached Image(s)
Jim Tennet (Curator and Chairman) Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Association 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association. Life Time Member http://www.381st.com/
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KevinWilson
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Ken:
Go to the website of the 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association at 381st.org
Here is your dad's info.:
From the personnel roster under Hisotry Data subheading:
Jones
David P. Jr. O-691261 533rd BS P 1091 Jones D.
You will find the insignia of the 533rd Bomb Squadron, the skull is the head of the Centurion.
You will find a wealth of materials on the website and the 381st has an active memorial association with annual reunions and numerous published history references. Join the active forum on the 381st site to post further questions.
Regards,
Kevin Wilson, PhD
Secretary-Treasurer/Past President/Group Historian
381st Bomb Group Memorial Association
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jtennet
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Kevin,
Missed his Dad's name. Would have saved me a lot of searching. Must be my age. Oh well, guessed the patch though.
Problem is, can't find mention of either plane in connection with the 381st. Guess they were posed shots, probably in the US, as I know they did that a lot.
Hope you are well and a Very Happy New Year to you both.
Jim Tennet (Curator and Chairman) Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Association 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association. Life Time Member http://www.381st.com/
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ramc181
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This photo of Arkansas Rambler with 2854 on the side of the nose was posted on another forum HERE:  This style of number marking is normally seen on Stateside training B-17s, so is probably B-17G 42-10 2854 of the 222nd Combat Crew Training School , 2AF, based at Ardmore AAF, Oklahoma. B-17F 42-2 9929 was also based at Ardmore. All the best, PB
Paul Bellamy 401st BG Association 401st BG Historical Society (UK) Alconbury ARG/AIX Archive
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jtennet
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Well done Paul. I guessed as much.
Jim Tennet (Curator and Chairman) Ridgewell Airfield Commemorative Association 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association. Life Time Member http://www.381st.com/
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ramc181
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Ta Jim,
More pieces of the jigsaw puzzle come together... :)
Paul Bellamy 401st BG Association 401st BG Historical Society (UK) Alconbury ARG/AIX Archive
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eyedocjones
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Jim, Kevin, Paul--
You guys hit the nail on the head. Right Squadron, right group, right patch, right pilot. When I was researching B-17s tonite on various sights I figured something was wrong with my pictures when I saw Texas(really Oklahoma ) in the background instead of England and an AR on the tail. It was interesting reading through the 533rd Unit History on the 381st.com site. Thank you very much for your help and preserving this history. I'm going to have to make it to Ridgewell now!
Ken
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ArkansasRambler
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Guys,
New to the forum here, I found it while researching the Arkansas Rambler. My father in law was a tailgunner in a B-17G. He has a photo very similar to the one posted above, but with a totally different crew and it was taken from the co-pilot side of the A/C. Same aircraft, same number 2854 in large blocks. The crew looks well-scrubbed and in dress uniforms, and he isn't wearing all the stripes he had at the end of the war. Based on this, I'd concur that this is probably a Stateside photo. His paperwork shows that he was at Ardmore with the 222nd CCTS until he was transferred to the 273rd AAF Base Unit in Lincoln NE on 1 Feb 1945. My father in law went on to serve with the 452nd BG out of Deopham Green. Hope this is of some interest.
Bob
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