Innocent Bystander (no noseart, name courtesy of Lt Pitts)
Aircraft Serial #: 43-38047
Names: Innocent Bystander (no noseart, name courtesy of Lt Pitts), Hard Luck II ( should be Hard Luck III w/no noseart, name courtesy of Farnsworth/Meacham)
Squadron: 350th | Squadron Marking: LN | Tail Marking: O
Pilot: 2LT JOSEPH RAINE
MACR: 08815
Notes
Innocent Bystander
Crew Information
5 KIA, 4 POW
History
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 20, 1944 | Cheyenne |
| June 22, 1944 | Accepted into Inventory |
| July 16, 1944 | Hunter |
| July 26, 1944 | Dow |
| August 1, 1944 | Assigned to UK |
| September 11, 1944 | FTR - Fighters - Tellerhauser, Germany |
| September 11, 1944 | FTR- Fighters - Tellerhauser, Germany |
And it was on time when they were still very young crew, using different planes for particular missions. Later they have flown her (43-38047) on Sept. 8, 10 and 11 when they were lost. BUT NOT IN AUGUST 44.
So, I can very seriously say, the 43-38047 was not Innocent Bystander, because on date when it was mentioned in the letter home, the crew flew another ships like Boss Lady 42-102657 and 43-38043 (the ship lost on Ruhland with Howard Schulte). So I believe, the Innocent Bystander note in the letter should be more connected to a particular person or as a crew nickname. My opinion is, it was not connected to a particular plane. Bud definitelly it was not related to 43-38047.
I am fighting against this mistake for ling time, but still without success.... 😉
Jan