Information about this photograph:

  1. Aircraft No: 42-30721
  2. Tail Letter: Unknown
  3. Fuselage ID: 3O-
  4. Group/Squadron: 398th, 601st
  5. Official Name of Aircraft: Sweet and Lovely
  6. Date of Photograph: Spring 1945
  7. Photo Location: Nuthampstead
  8. Crew at time of Photograph: The 398th did not fly this plane in combat; however, it was a good photo op. Pictured with the Sweet and Lovely are a few members of the Pettus crew: 
    1. Viewer Left to Right: 
      1. S/Sgt. Kasch (KIA)
      2. M/Sgt. Ben Winninger - Radio
      3. S/Sgt. Ernie LaCoste - Gunner
      4. S/Sg.t Keegan - Gunner
    2. Foreground:
      1. T/Sgt Wickens, Engineer (KIA)
  9. Final Disposition of A/C: 10 October 1945, Altus, Oklahoma
  10. Interpretive Comments: Sweet and Lovely, B-17F 42-30721 was assigned to a number of groups over its history. The 398th (601st Squadron) acquired it from the 381st. The 398th records shows this B-17 listed in its aircraft inventory report, designated as “W W” (War Weary), every month from Dec. 6 1944 until the 398th pulled out May/June 1945.

Source Information:

  1. Photo Source: Jack's Books via Lee Bradley
  2. Photo Reference: 42-30721-3O_1945Sprg_JB
  3. Photographer: Unknown but probably 398th Base Photographer.
  4. Information compiled by the 398th Web team with special thanks to Geoff Rice and Lee Anne Bradley
  5. If you would like to add information about this photograph, please contact our Aircraft Photo Coordinator. Please include the title.