Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Flight Officer (F/O) Douglas E. Whitefield, Navigator - B-17

Standing: Top Left






Flight Officer (F/O) Douglas E. Whitefield, Navigator, was in the 379th Bombardment group and flew 4 missions with the 524th Bomb Squadron from 4/15/45 to 4/25/45.

F/O Whitefield flew on 4 different aircraft. All the aircraft flown by F/O Whitefield and crew were metallic or silver. The 379th Bomb group markings are attached. The number 1 at the top of the triangle signifies that the aircraft was in the 524BS (1-524;2-525;3-526;4-527) the aircraft serial number is below the black triangle. Miss Liberty 43-37570, a Boeing built aircraft was flown by F/O Whitefield and crew on their 2nd mission to Esterwerda, Germany 4/19/45. The letter K was their call sign.

Looking down from the top of the aircraft a plain triangle K would be shown about 1 foot from the right wing tip. On the left wing and both sides of the fuselage in front of the waist would be the US insignia.

A statue of Liberty was painted on the nose in front of the name and went up past the windows in height. (See attached photo) Miss Liberty was written in white letters on a painted black back ground on the nose 1 foot below the windows in a straight line toward the nose. (not clearly shown on this photo) Miss Liberty is in the 379th Century Club flew 110 combat missions.

Click hear to Listen

No comments: