Information about this photograph:

  1. Aircraft No: 42-102565
  2. Tail Letter: M
  3. Fuselage ID: Missing in this early photo, but later was designated 3O - M
  4. Group/Squadron: 398th, 601st
  5. Official Name of Aircraft: The Ugly Duckling
  6. Date of Photograph: around Spring 1944 because of reverse tail marking
  7. Photo Location: Nuthampstead
  8. Crew at time of Photograph: Unknown
  9. Final Disposition of A/C: Brought down by flak barrage during mission to Misburg, Germany, 26 Nov 1944. Crashed near Zwolle, The Neatherlands. Pilot Benjamin G. Rolfe and all crew members KIA. See our 398th Missing Air Crew Reports, MACR 11147; also see our 398th Killed in Action list.
  10. Interpretive Comments: This photo was in the Norman Rudrud photo collection. The photo is unusual because of the reverse coloring of the 398th's tail symbol, the Triangle W, which normally is a black triangle with a white W. Thus this photo was probably taken in the Spring or early Summer of 1944 before the symbol was standardized.

    Of note is a B-17 flying overhead and other B-17s parked nearby with men and ladders. Most likely maintenance is taking place by the aircraft flight mechanics.

See also:

  1. The Ugly Duckling Nose Art in our Nose Art Photos Section.

Source Information:

  1. Photo Source: The Norman Rudrud 398th Photo CD compiled by Eric Rudrud.
  2. Photo Reference: Page 22
  3. Photographer: Unknown but probably 398th Base Photographer.
  4. Information compiled by the 398th Web team with special thanks to Lee Anne Bradley, Geoff Rice and Eric Rudrud.
  5. If you would like to add information about this photograph, please contact our Aircraft Photo Coordinator. Please include the title.