Yeah Steve , I'll get my cousin who has the original photos in an old album to see if he can improve on what we have now. I notice some unusual writing on the engine cowling - is that of any value or significance ?

OK , I've contacted my cousin and a re-scan will be done this weekend , if that fails to get the details then it's plan B - magnifying glass on the originals !! I do hope we can get this information.
 
I have a question that perhaps someone here may have some idea about - as already mentioned 42-5125 went into the North Sea and 7 crew made into the dinghies , position was noted and reported on by other aircraft yet these guys were never rescued nor do records show any evidence that any Search or Rescue operation was mounted ( that is not to say effors were not made but I can find no reference to them ).
Just what sort of Air Sea Search and Rescue Service did the USAAF operate at the time ? Did they even have such a service ?
I am aware that the dinghies carried survival gear and emergency radio sets but in this case much of the survival equipment either failed or was broken in the crash - for example the kites used to take aloft the aerials for the radios were smashed , signalling balloon was destroyed and a number of flares failed to ignite.
Fact is these men who were all suffering varying degress of injury drifted for days on end and ultimately all but 2 died - while the North Sea is surely an inhospitable place it is a hell of a lot smaller than the Pacific.
 
I'm not implying any criticism of the USAAF nor should that be inferred but I am curious as to what provision was made for rescuing downed aircrew at sea ?
 

Yes, frustratingly fuzzy but I think it might be 41-24572, which was delivered by Boeing on  August 10, 1942 and originally assigned to Lt Morris M. Jones and his crew in the 364th Bomb Squadron of the 305th Bomb Gropup. This B-17 was transferred to the 414th Bomb Squadron of the 97th Bomb Group, presumably to bring them up to strength before they moved to North Africa in November 1942, and might have been the plane assigned to 1/Lt Claude H. Lawrence and his crew. The plane was transferred again to the 346th Bomb Squadron, 99th Bomb Group on November 14, 1943. Flew its last mission on March 30, 1944, returned to the U.S. in June 1944 and to Walnut Ridge September 1945. That would certainly explain why Butch doesn't show up in the 305th's records. Does that make sense to you Ian?

Thanks for replies guys , really disappointing that the numbers are too fuzzy to be sure - one thing I am aware of is that my cousin ( Sgt Nolan ) seems to have flown a number of missions where the pilot was a Captain Saunders - anyone heard of him ?

I put up a high resolution image of the ' Butch ' photo on Dropbox ( way too big to post here or e-mail ) and Steve Birdsall has taken a good look at it again - in the background is a B17 with squadron lettering visible on the fuselage , apparently this lettering was not applied to B 17's until December 1942 which casts doubt on ' Butch ' being 41-24572 given that this aircraft was re-assigned to another group in early November of that year.
 
Steve thinks the correct number is 41-24573  which was flown to Chelveston by a crew commanded by Lt. Saunders and Lt. Burnett , I know my cousin flew at least twice with these guys so although he was not among the delievery crew I do wonder if LT. Saunders was his 'primary' pilot ?
 
I am aware that 41-24573 was lost on May 19th on the Kiel raid , my cousin was on that raid flying with Saunders and Burnett in another B17.
Anyone have any information on the aircraft flown by Lt's Saunders and Burnett ?
Can anyone ID any of the ' Butch ' crew ?
 
If anyone wants to view the high res image of ' Butch ' feel free to PM your e-mail details and I will be happy to give Dropbox access.
 
Thanks guys

Thanks Ian - there's some information on the nose art of 41-24359 at this old thread:
 
http://forum.armyairforces.com/Early-301st-Bomb-Group-B17Fs-m208165.aspx
 
Have you ever seen that artwork on a 305th plane? It fits well enough with the "Turd Bird" name, but was born again on 42-5131 as Hun-Pecker, in North Africa.

I have just found this site. My dad Earl W Quillman crewed on the Butch. Navigator with 305. Did 33 missions.  He said ( before he passed away years ago ) the crew went through three planes. I don't think he did all is runs with the same plane. Any info would be appreciated. I find this format difficult,but can always get me at  jackq1900@comcast .net. Dad  was at  PRESTWICK ---- ended up retiring  from the Airforce after 24 years.  Many thanks. Jack

Yeah Jack , any information on any of the ' Butch'es ' and crew/s would be of great interest to me. Regarding the 2 photos I posted at the start of this thread , do you recognise your dad in either ? - I have high resolution shots available on Dropbox if that would help you ?
Thanks for posting here.