42-32024 -B-17G-35-BO – “Swamp Fire”

Original Information

Model: B-17G-50
Serial Number: 20292
C/N#: 42-32024
Manufacturer Name: Boeing
Manufacturer Location: Seattle
Year Manufacturer: 1944
Current Serial#:
Nose Art: Swamp Fire
Nose Art History: Co-Pilot Byron B. Clark of the first assigned crew had read an article about this natural phenomenon. The article said that the gaseous forms of a Swamp Fire sometimes created an apparition that could travel at great speeds throughout the hills and valleys, spreading fear amongst the local residents. Pretty much what these Airmen wanted to do to the German troops. The Nose Art was painted on by the artistic Ground Crew Chief of the Fatso. His name was John Bud Sterling. John also designed the 524th BS unit patch.

History:

• 524th BS of the 379th BG
• First Heavy Bomber to reach 100 missions without an abort
• Dropped America’s first guided bomb. Code Name : Grapefruit Bomb 28 May 1944
• Current Historian

Richard Lewis
253 Leasor Lane
Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701
Phone: 270-769-3792
E-mail: swampfire1944@gmail.com

https://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home

https://sites.google.com/site/379thbgnoseart/

Milestones of Swamp Fire

• Completed & delivered 15 January 1944- flown to England 14 February 1944
• Pressed into duty 21 February 1944
• Achieved 25th Mission status on 04 May 1944
• Picked to be one of 60 crews out of 1300 available, to fly the top secret “Grapefruit Mission” 28 May 1944
• Winner of Grand Slam Award for April/May mission statistics 1944
• Achieved 50th Mission Status on 22 June 1944
• Achieved 75th Mission Status on 13 August 1944
• Achieved 100th Mission Status on 01 November 1944- First Heavy Bomber to do so without an Abort.
• Crashed on landing by rookie crew after completing 114th Mission
• Crashed on landing after completing 117th mission
• Declared ‘War Weary’ by Ground Crew Chief Dominick DeSalvo on 12 December 1944
• Returned to the United States 12 July 1945
• Declared surplus 30 November 1945 moved to Kingman, Arizona
• Sold as surplus 29 December 1945

• The Grand Slam was an award created by the Command Staff of the 8th Army Air Force.

Only one Bomb Group ever met the standards outlined in the award. The 379th.

First to Fly?

The Swamp Fire had only two assigned flight crews and only one ground crew for it’s entire operational time. There were other mission crews that took her out when the assigned crews were listed as ‘standing down’ and I have found at least 90 individuals who were mission crews or fill-ins for the sick or wounded of these other crews.
We have the names of most of those who flew with those crews but unfortunately have not been able to identify all of them with photos as of yet. Most of our stories and information come from official documents, personal remembrances and diaries. It has been our fortune to have talked with several of the air combat and ground crew veterans. We have greatly benefited from their input and could never have told or saved this story without them.
The picture below is of a crew who had lost their aircraft in January. This crew was the first to fly the Swamp Fire, while her first assigned crew was going through orientation. If you can identify any of these men please contact us. They flew around 4 missions on Swamp Fire before handing her back over to the assigned crew. We believe the list on the right is some of them.

Harold E Marston
(not pictured)
Sergeant
Right Waist Gunner
Wounded in Action

Eugene F Moses
2nd Lieutenant
Bombardier

William B Dumas
2nd Lieutenant
Navigator

Thomas F Cunningham
Tech Sergeant
Radio Operator/Gunner

William (NMI) Fliegel
Tech Sergeant
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner

Robert M Mcminn
Staff Sergeant
Ball Turret Gunner

Raymond R Zulaski
Staff Sergeant
Left Waist Gunner

Eugene R Pierce
Staff Sergeant
Tail Gunner

Fernando R Leonardy
2nd Lieutenant
Co-Pilot

Kenneth J Duvall
1st Lieutenant
Pilot