Tags: "Hell's Angels", Audie Murphy, B-17F, John Basilone, Liberty Bonds, Memphis Belle, Norman Rockwell, Pearl Harbor, U.S. Army Air Force, United States, USAAF, War Bonds, War Bonds Tour, World War I, World War II. Kneeling, ducking, trying to shoot down the bad guyscouldnt feel that comfortable! One of my relatives was in the 330th, Captain Hugh R. Roper, He piloted B-24D Exterminator, 41-23717. My fathers Bomb Group on Guam, hosted three crews from the 8th Air Force, 346th Bomb Group. On May 13, 1943, the 303rd BG B-17F Hells Angels became the first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions over Europe, four days before the Memphis Belles crew. It is our intention to play a role in safeguarding the heritage of these beautiful machines by providing increased awareness and education through the use of internet based digital media. Crew Configuration The B-17 could hold a crew of ten. Nine-O-Nine was a Boeing B-17G-30-BO Flying Fortress heavy bomber, of the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, that completed 140 combat missions during World War II, believed to be the Eighth Air Force record for most missions, without loss to the crews that flew her. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. A raid on 14 February is listed as the 34th 8th Bomber Command mission. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Wreckage of a Wellington bomber shot down by flak over the Netherlands, lost in a raid on Bremen, 13-14 September 1942. 31. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. B-24 Liberator Bomber Aircraft. THEN TO JAPAN WHERE WE SUPPLIED ALL THE FAR EAST WITH CARGO GOING AS FAR EAST AS BANGKOK THAILAND, IN COUNTRY NAM, PHILLLIPINES, KOREA AND OTHER POINTS THERE IN. Ive always heard that anyone saying they flew more than 25 missions was a liar. Instructing had its dangers, too, as it involved flying with inexperienced recruits in old aircraft. The 381st lost seven of 18 deployed. Whistle Stop Rail Trail, Your email address will not be published. Bomber crews needed to complete 25 missions before they were allowed to go home but that number was almost statistically impossible in Europe. They knew what they needed to know to successfully perform their duties but other than that, they had limited information. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG . The group leader sometimes flew in one, sometimes the other. The B-17 Flying Fortress "The Memphis Belle" on its way back to the US after completing 25 missions from an airbase in England, June 9, 1943. . The Hot Stuff and her crew were soon forgotten. B-17F Hell's Angels, tail number 41-24577 and crew. The first to complete 25 combat missions was the crew of B-24 Liberator named Hot Stuff dropping bombs on Naples, Italy on February 7, 1943 three-and-a-half months before Memphis Belle flew her 25th mission. Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. You didnt know if you would be headed back out on another mission in 24 hours or 5 days. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by 2LT Richard McNamara. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Unknown crew of 392.'. When bomber crews completed 25 missions, they got credit for a combat tour and went home, but in late 1943, the odds were against their doing so. The four men by the waist window are using grappling hooks on two rods to lift the bomb onto the dolly, a three-wheeled cart. The Belle is also known as the first (and one of only three) a/c that completed its tour without losing a single crewman. Since 1943 Word War II aviation history considered the "Memphis Belle" as the first heavy bomber to reach the 25-mission mark. Short Bier is housed here. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Enola Gay, Regular Crew (Crew B-9) Crew B-9 flew five combat missions, including the Hiroshima bombing mission. The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. I have no idea). Although crew members were required to fly a minimum of 25 combat missions before returning to the United States, some were called back to duty for another 25. Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-18 Mustang A68-104 (VH-BOB) arrived at Avalon Airport in Avalon, Victoria on Friday March, 4th 2023, touching down just before 10am. B-17E Suzy-Q The Suzy-Q, a 19th BG B-17E, was the first USAAF heavy bomber to complete 25 missions and return to the US. The worst B-29 mission, against Tokyo on May 25, 1945, cost 26 Superfortresses, 5.6 percent of the 464 dispatched from the Marianas.. More than 8,000 men were killed in training accidents or other non-operational flying during the Second . 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The B-17 dropped more bombs than any other U.S. aircraft in World War II. Does anyone know if the 330th Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group has such a diary? The B-29 Missions From 3 Feb 1945 to 14 Aug 1945, the 6th Bomb Group officially flew 75 missions. (more) The crews were men from the United Kingdom, other Commonwealth countries, and occupied Europe, especially Poland, France, Czechoslovakia and Norway, as well as other foreign volunteers. She was the third. The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. The crew of Hot Stuff didnt land at their scheduled stop on their way to Iceland, which if they had of stopped they would have found out about the incoming bad weather conditions, and may have waited until it passed and was safe to fly. How many B17 crews actually managed to complete 25 missions during WW2? What Is The New Name Of Dixie State University, Alphabetical List Of Names On The Vietnam Wall, Cisco Job Application Status Under Review, What Is The New Name Of Dixie State University. The first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions in the European Theater, May 13th, 1942. I bookmarked it. And I understand the desire behind it perfectly. However, others stayed behind to complete 30 missions to avoid having to return from the states for a second tour of duty. I told her I didn't mean I would call CPS. The bumped crewmembers were told that they were to remain in England to train new crews. After all the adversity, damage and close calls, no one was ever seriously injured, and her entire crew made it home. The aircraft was returned to the states on January 20, 1944, for its own publicity tour. How long does it take to form a habit of waking up early? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. I miss old shakey, but I enjoyed flying Pan Ams B-727 even more (a career with PAA followed, 1967-91). Americans, for better or worse are conditioned to respond to a happy ending, especially when it goes against all probability. Despite MGM's reluctance to let . In fact, it is believed that Memphis Belle was the third to complete 25 successful missions. Doubtless, Hot Stuff and her crew deserve to be remembered for their heroic accomplishment, as does the crew of Hells Angels, and all the other pilots and planes who served, regardless of circumstances of their sacrifice. What was the first b17 to complete 25 missions? The old saw goes the first casualty of war is truth, and it is entirely likely that there were other planes and/or crews between Hot Stuff and Memphis Belle that completed the vaunted 25 missions that constituted a completed tour of duty, a bar that was moved at various times to 25, 30, and 35 missions, depending on the overall loss rates, the degree of mission difficulty, as well as the conditions that they were operating in. On March 24, 1945, the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force departed from its base in Italy to escort B-17 heavy bombers on a 1,600-mile round trip flight to the German capital. 1 How many missions did ww2 bomber crews fly? Top Stories For You. Pilots need to take flash photographs after dropping the bombs otherwise, it might not be included in the required number of missions for a single tour. In 1943, an American bomber crewman stood only a one-in-five chance of surviving his tour of duty, twenty-five missions. How many B-17 fly 25 missions are there? Hot Stuff and crew were in the 9th from the begining of Dec 1942 on, flying missions from bases in Africa. B-24D Hot Stuff She was originally B-17G-105-VE 44-85718 and is now painted to . A highly modern aircraft for its day, it first saw combat operations with the Royal Air Force. To promote selling the War Bonds, rallies were held throughout the country with famous celebrities, usually Hollywood film stars, sports personalities, and war heroes such as John Basilone and Audie Murphy. A radio operator, he was in the crew of one of two bombers that in which the group leader flew, with radar where the belly gunner would normally be. This website is about the 50 combat missions my father, Donald Wise, flew in 1944 in the B-17 bomber "PIG CHASER". Andrews, an experienced, instrument-rated pilot, bumped the normal co-pilot off the plane and flew in his place. And during World War II, theres no shortage of incredible stories and interesting facts involving the aircraft and itscrew members. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Miraculously the injured tail-gunner, Sgt. WHAT A GOOD FLYING, FORGIVING AIRCRAFT WITH PLENTY OF POWER WITH 4 R-4360 PRATT WHITNEY ENGINES.PLENTY OF FLYING EUROPE FROM HOT WEATHER IN SOUTHERN ITALY TO THE COLD OF ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE. Hells Angels a B-17F Flying Fortress became the first 8th Air Force B-17 to complete 25 combat missions in June 1943. Yep, my pawpaw flew on that bird. Turn-arounds, aborts and alternate target missions did not count, even though those flights may have encountered enemy defenses before terminating the mission. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". He joked that after WWII, raising six kids was a piece of cake. At the end of their tour, the crew of Hells Angels signed on for a second tour and continued to fly, going on to fly 48 missions, without ever turning back from their assigned target. WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN FLYING AND THE GREAT MACHINES.SO MUCH SO THAT I ENLISTED IN AIRFORCE AT 18 AND 1/2 YEARS OF AGE.FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO GO TO 3 TECH SCHOOLS PLUS FLIGHT ENGINEERING SCHOOL.JUST MISSED FLYING STATUS IN KOREA AS I WAS CLEARED FOR FLIGHT IN KOREA JUST AFTER I MADE THE LIST FOR ROTATION BACK TO US IN 3 MONTHSI BELEIVED IN LONGEVITY SO DEEPLY THAT I QUICKLY CHANGED OUR MINDS ABOUT FLYING STATUS IN THE WAR ZONE. Its just a lot of booze gone to waste. So he promptly retrieved his discharge and it stated he had really flown 137 missions. We were having some drinks and I was listening to some of his war stories when he told me he had flown 137 missions. Thunderbird is the name given to a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress. completed a remarkable 201 combat missions, a feat that made it the highest mission scorer of any Allied medium or heavy bomber. And, although air and ground crews rarely mingled, there was a special bond between crew chief and pilot. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. After his first B-17 mission over Germany, the young radio operator-gunner was convinced that he could not survive 25 missions . Of the 120,000 who served, 55,573 were killed including over 10,000 Canadians. Good day! Im trying to find out how many B17s were operational in the European Theatre of Operations. The Memphis Belle is a World War II-era bomber that completed 24 combat missions on 15 May 1943. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. did not took place in advance! In order to complete their missions, the 6th Bomb Group had to run a gauntlet of Air Defenses, ranging from fighter to radar-controlled AA guns and rockets. (LOL). My brother said it was their 49th mission. Waldock also discovered that Lieutenant General Andrews was a VIP getting a return flight back to the US along with his close aides and staff, who took the place of the bombers original crew. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Now an academic from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona, Florida has revealed that it was the B-24 named Hot Stuff that was the first bomber to make 25 missions and return home, not the Memphis Belle. It made its first mission on Oct. 21, 1942 over Lorient, France. The reason for this misinformation seems to have been to obscure the fact that the Supreme Commander was absent the theater. Why? Interestingly, this raid was the Belles 24th combat mission as the original crew occasionally flew missions on other planes and other crews took the Belle on missions as well. Although the U.S. Army Air Force sent its individual war heroes to War Bond rallies, it preferred sending 10-man heavy bombers crews. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. upper turret > dia. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The 328th. How many B17 crews actually managed to complete 25 missions during WW2? Their 26th mission was to fly back to the United States for a heroes welcome, Bond Tours, etc.. 578th crew chief T/Sgt Lowell D. Hale paints bombs showing missions completed on #42-7624, Flying 8 Ball. Told you he was a wild man. This email was sent by Quora (650 Castro Street #450, Mountain View, CA 94041). The B-25 was designed by North American Aviation, Inc., in response to a prewar requirement and was first flown in 1940. The plane crashed into the side of a mountain near the airfield in Iceland. A dear friend of mine was the navigator/turret gunner of the lead plane on the 2nd successful Pelosti mission and I saw the commendation for that and for the 50 missions that B24 crew made.. completed her 25th mission on May 1,1943. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. THE GREATEST GENERATION OF AMERICANS!!! The B-17 Hell's Angels became the first to complete the feat one week before the Memphis Belle. ANY WAY I HAD FLIGHT EXPERIENCE ON THE B 26 TOWING TARGETS HERE IN THE GOOD OLD USA. In the end the significance of specific mission counts are completely arbitrary. During World War II, workers in factories signed milestone aircraft, such as 1,000th aircraft built, before they were delivered. Object Number - FRE 5112 - Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951. How do I know this for sure? General Andrews, considered to be the father of the modern USAF, was replaced by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. Following his wife's death in an air crash while returning from a war bonds tour, a devastated Gable decided to enlist. Unlike the 8th, the 9th didnt had a set limit of 25 missions. #11: Missions would often last for 8-10 hours. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Memphis Belle was supposedto be the first B-17 bomber to fly 25 bombing missions and return back to base safely each time. My hero. The 'lucky' Lancaster bomber, called EE136, was taken on 109 missions, including 14 raids to Berlin, Germany. How many crew members did the b17 have? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is one of America's most prolific heavy bombers of WWII and the backbone of allied strategic bombing missions before the introduction of B-17 and B-29 WW2 bombers. Carlo Quintiliani Updated Mon To put this into sobering perspective - the 8th Air Force in Europe lost more men than the entire US Marine Corps did in World War Two - both horrible thoughts to consider.. Read More What is the song 'Norwegian Wood' really about? That the Memphis Belle story, though abetted by a government anxious to report uplifting and inspiring stories of the war to its people at home, captured the publics imagination, doesnt make the story any less inspiring and does not and should not be perceived as taking something away from the countless others who made sacrifices for their country, just as the recognizing the achievements of the crews of Hot Stuff and Hells Angels dont diminish the sacrifices made by those unfortunate souls who went down in flames whether on their first, fourth or 24th mission in service to their country. The B-17 Delta Rebel II of the 91st BG, piloted by Capt.George Birdsong,Jr. On the night of 13/14 February 1945, 796 Lancasters took part in a. Perhaps our paths crossed, as I was in the front seats of that magnificent noise-maker. Nor was she the second. One the return journey Lieutenant General Frank Andrews took over the flying and when the plane hit severe weather conditions. Memorial Day in United States is observed on 25 May. I am trying to find information on which B-24 crew he was a member of but I am not having much luck. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. chin turret > dia. It is mentioned that the units flying out of Africa and Italy had no such standard mission tour cap . He had to get a waiver to receive his diploma in absence. Dad flew 37 missions for RAF. Upon impact, the aircraft disintegrated except for the tail gunners turret, which remained relatively intact. It establishes hearing as the norm or standard to which we are compared, and then indicates that we are "defective" accord Japan was completely impoverished, on the verge of mass starvation, and reeling from nearly an entire generation of men wiped out. After 25 missions, the crew and the Belle went on a . It was powered by two 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior engines, but conditions were changing rapidly in 1937, due to events in the Chinese and Spanish wars. By the summer of 1940 when it appeared the United States would be drawn into World War II, bonds again were being sold as a way to remove money from circulation as well as reduce inflation. Besides Boeing, Douglas and Lockheed (via subsidiary Vega) also contributed to that total. Vulcan to the Sky Trust Works to Keep Last Flying Avro Vulcan Aloft, Dornier Do 17 Retrieved From Goodwin Sands Arrives at RAF Museum Cosford. Five bomber groups of the US 5th Air Force operated B-17 bombers in the Pacific Theater, with a peak of 168 bombers in Sep 1942. However, it is generally agreed that between 50 and 70 Lancaster bombers were lost in World War 2. Hells Angels was the first B-17/crew to complete 25 missions on May 13, 1943. The Germans really dialed in shooting bombers out of the sky with their sophisticated FLAK systems and method. Grant Rondeau only told us that he wasnt aboard the final flight. 329th and 330th squadrons were under Ted Timberlake. The Memphis Belle was one of the first heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions with no crew fatalities. There will always be those who subscribe to particular yardsticks though, so to summarize: Hot Stuff was the first B-24/crew and the first heavy bomber to complete 25 missions on February 7, 1943. It does not store any personal data. Those interested in Hot Stuff and/or are looking to support the erection of the Icelandic monument to the brave men who served on her can connect with the organization HERE or the groups Facebook page. The 25-mission milestone becomes harder to pin down when considering changing crew members due to rotation, death, injury, illness, leave and equipment failures leading to spare planes pressed into service, errant wartime record-keeping, etc. All Rights Reserved. On May 13, 1943, the 303rd BG B-17F Hells Angels became the first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions over Europe, four days before the Memphis Belles crew. The plane flew into zero visibility and it has been reported that the bombers radio was broken. His discharge also stated he was to pay child support to one woman in England and one in France. The man at the back of the trailer is attaching the tail fin, which is secured by a ring collar screwed onto the threads on the bomb itself. My dad was a waste gunner on a B 24 in ww2. In October 1943, 20-year-old SSgt. Hells Angels was the first B-17 crew to complete 25 combat missions on May 13, 1943. Have taught English in Germany. Eyewitnesses and early documents tell a different story: "Hot Stuff" was the first B-24 crew and the first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions on February 7, 1943. It was sent to North Africa to support the 12th Air Force after its 10th mission in the ETO and returned to Hardwick, England in February 1943 after completing its 27th mission. Have you ever been punished with corporal punishme budisuryanto001, see what's new and featured for June. The aircrews of RAF Bomber Command during World War II operated a fleet of bomber aircraft carried strategic bombing operations from September 1939 to May 1945, on behalf of the Allied powers. "Hi. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In the article comments, we were contacted by Air Force veteran Jim Lux who stated The first heavy bomber in the 8th Air Force to complete 25 mission in World War II was the B-24 Liberator Hot Stuff. Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. So dangerous was flying heavy bomber combat missions, the USAAF had a policy that when an aircrew wrapped up 25 missions, it was deemed to have completed their tour of duty. The War Department would then bring the bomber and its crew home to conduct nationwide promotional tours to sell war bonds to help fund the war effort. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Between its initial flight on Dec. 29, 1939, and September 1945, nearly 18,500 Liberators rolled off the production line at five plants. More B17s were built than the Lancaster, but some, many, were used in the Pacific Theatre as well. Average age of air crew member is 19 or 20 years old. The swastika marks a German aircraft destroyed, while the parachuter indicates Parker had to jump. Suzy-Q nose artthe circled areas highlight combat damage repair. On May 13, 1943, the 303rd BG B-17F Hell's Angels became the first heavy bomber to complete 25 combat missions over Europe, four days before the Memphis Belle's crew. According to my brother, it was in the Ploesti raid that their lost all their fuel when anti-aircraft shells went through their wings without exploding. Brittany Williams Lite Brite Height, The plane and her crew was on the return flight to the states for a War Bonds publicity and morale-boosting tour on May 3, 1943, and Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews, Commander of the European Theater of Operations needed to get back the the states as he had been summoned to Washington DC by the General of the Army, George Marshall. How accurate was the movie Memphis Belle? Read the complete story. When WW2 ended, a total of 12,700 B-17 bombers were built. He said he didn't know of very many pilots who q. They did get in a few 1000 . Do modern Germans regret having lost their eastern territories at the end of World War II? It therefore fell to Memphis Belle as the face of bomber aircraft during the war. Consider for example the Operation Tidal Wave strike by American B-24 bombers against oil reserves in Ploesti Romania in 1943: of 178 bombers and 1,726 men on the mission, 54 aircraft, and nearly 500 men failed to return (310 killed and 186 captured). Almost one in five Australian airmen to serve in Britain did not survive the war. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. To be the first to complete 25 missions was significant because once completed the bomber and its crew could return home. According to decades of World War II aviation history, the crew of the Memphis Belle became the first B-17F Flying Fortress crew to complete 25 missions following a strike against Kiel, Germany. An amusing sidelight was that he was highly indignant that every third mission they got liberty and that at 50 missions , they were one short and did NOT get liberty, even though the war in Europe was over. Coming it third place was the Memphis Belle, which completed 25 combat missions on May 19, 1943. More than 50,000 Airmen lost their lives in the four years of WWII and the majority of those losses were on bomber missions over Nazi Germany in B-17s and B-24s. Cisco Job Application Status Under Review, I think, though, that the best answer is the one difficult to accept. Pilot. That because the American public knew heavy bomber crews faced death on every mission with only one in four chance of actually completing their tour of duty; thats an average life expectancy of only eight weeks. The crewmen of the B-29 bomber Enola Gay was separated from other military groups and were trained (for the deployment of atomic bombs) in secret. Very broadly, a typical fighter pilot might rack up 250 - 500 combat missions from 1941 to 1945; a bomber pilot, perhaps 50 - 100 if they survived (considering Bomber Command losses were averaging 5% at times, completing one tour, let alone more, was statistically unlikely). So that would be 17,280 airmen on such a mission, and they never managed any 1700 plane raids. Source: www.b17alliance.com How many B-17 survived 25 missions? If wounded are included in the count, the total casualty rate goes up to 54.3%. The most famous aerial gunner was probably Clark Gable - MGM's biggest earner when WWII began. sorry what we call pussy, they call lunch.. What was the first bomber to complete 25 missions? 25 missions On May 17, 1943, the crew of the Memphis Belle, one of a group of American bombers based in Britain, becomes the first B-17 crew to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States. It does not store any personal data. In fact, its main practical use is for protecting your neck against the wool material of theuniform which will likely cause blisters. Cinematic masterpieces "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946), "Roman Holiday" (1953) and "Ben-Hur" (1959 . Pilot. IX bomber completed 213 missions but this aircraft was destroyed in a crash at Calgary Airport in Canada, two days after V-E Day, see . Memphis Belle is the nickname of a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress during the Second World War that inspired the making of two motion pictures: a 1944 documentary film, Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress, and a 1990 Hollywood feature film, Memphis Belle. Doolittle Raid, (April 18, 1942), during World War II, U.S. Army Air Forces bombing raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Restoration: The Memphis Belle. , Son of a US Military Historian, wargamer and professional strategist; US Army In How does a person bring a narcissist to their knees? Andrews and his entourage hitched a ride on Hot Stuff, and in doing so bumped five crew members from the flight. The aircraft was one of the first B-17 United States Army Air Corps heavy bombers to complete 25 combat missions with her crew intact . Your chances of completing all 25 missions, at least unscathed, were slim to none. No Built - 18,188. 07 June 1944 Crews - 9 Crewmen One of the two Waist Gunners removed from crews. After completing 25 missions, Hell's Angels remained in theater until 1944 and flew a total of 48 missions without any injured crewmen or abort. Please let us know. And yes, I have some unofficial photos of the B-25 aircraft and activities in Italy. But the B-17s stayed on unwaivering courses to their targets . Five other crewmen were bumped to make room for Andrews and his entourage. Many ground crewmen felt the Libs belonged to them and were only "loaned" to the air crews. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. What was the first B-17 bomber to make 25 missions and return? In 1943, having flown over France, Belgium, and Germany, the Memphis Belle crew became one of the first to reach that goal. If I recall correctly (at least in the 330th) the 25 mission count only included completed primary target missions. Today, 46 planes survive in complete form, 10 of which are airworthy, and 39 of which reside in the United States. Martin Maryland. Doesnt matter who was first. Irving Ostuw died this 11/29/14. For the survivors, there wasn't much time for contemplation of those lost. He was in the 389th bomb group, 567th squadron. how many ww2 bomber crews completed 25 missions. Hanson and his wife, Irene, had moved from Arizona to Albuquerque recently to be close to their daughter. Further, this isnt really obvious if you take a cursory look at 8th AF operations, but the B-24 groups didnt start large scale operations until after the P-51B was available.