Information about this photograph:

  1. Aircraft No: 42-102516
  2. Tail Letter: H
  3. Fuselage ID: 3O-H
  4. Group/Squadron: 398th, 601st
  5. Official Name of Aircraft: Bronx Bomber II
  6. Date of Photograph: Summer 1944
  7. Photo Location: Nuthampstead
  8. Crew at time of Photograph: Unknown
  9. Final Disposition of A/C: Crashed 13 Aug 1944 in France, Weekley Crew, MACR 7910
  10. Interpretive Comments: The B-17 in this photograph has aborted a landing and the wheels are about half way back up as it begins its' climb.
    1. The nose was painted black. Evidently it had flown through some nasty stuff, like napalm, and it was causing some corrosion to the nose area, so it was painted in order the stop the corrosion.
      There appears to be a small white figure within the painted nose. It appears to be a bird, possibly the 601st insignia.
    2. The tents in the distance are thought to be the 600th and 601st Squadron's Dispersal area. The photo was probably taken from the 603rd Squadron area. If this is correct, the aircraft is proceeding over the NE/SW main runway in a north-easterly direction.
    3. An unusual aspect of the photograph is that all four propellers appear to be stopped. It is felt this is the result of a high shutter speed and/or fast film.
    4. There are two known copies of this photo; probably there are many and this was one of many available to the men. One of ours is from the Victor Jenkin's collection and the other is from the Ray Vicha collection. Ray Vicha was a 603rd gunner. Jeff Vicha wrote that Ray Vicha's 398th photo album stated "Coming in from Germany, Belly Landing like a bat out of hell!"

Source Information:

  1. Photo Source: The Raymond Vicha Photo Collection
  2. Photo Reference: 42-102516-30-H_1944Sumr_RV
  3. Photographer: Unknown but probably 398th Base Photographer.
  4. Information compiled by the 398th Web team with special thanks to Geoff Rice, Jeff Vicha and Harold D. Weekley.
  5. If you would like to add information about this photograph, please contact our Aircraft Photo Coordinator. Please include the title.