For those who may be interested in honoring the 75th anniversary of the very first All American heavy bomber combat mission conducted over German occupied territory in Europe on August 17, 1942, please read on. This historic mission was executed using twelve Boeing B‑17E Heavy Bomber Flying Fortresses from the VIII Bomber Command’s 97th Bomb Group made up of four Bomb Squadrons (340th, 341st, 342nd and the 414th). These twelve Flying Fortresses were from the following Bomb Squadrons: one (1) from the 340th and five (5) from the 342nd, which were all in the first flight group, and six (6) from the 414th all in the second flight group. In addition, three (3) bombers from the 340th and three (3) bombers from the 341st flew diversionary missions. Of historic note, General Ira C. Eaker, the commander of the VIII Bomber Command, flew as an observer in the led aircraft in the second flight group of six B‑17’s piloted by Captain Rudolph “Rudy” Emil Flack, the Mission Commander. Captain Flack was also the Base Commander from where the twelve Flying Fortresses departed, which was the Grafton-Underwood RAF airfield located 4 miles northeast of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. Captain Flack was also the 414th Bomb Squadron Commander. The B‑17E Flying Fortress piloted by Captain Flack was the “Yankee Doodle” (41-9023). For an insight into Colonel Rudy Flack’s life story and his stellar military career, I have attached the books 2-page Preface to this email. As a result of my being in the process of completing this book about my father’s life (Rudy Flack) primarily focused on his military flying career, I am able to provide never before seen photographs, military documents and a detailed accounting of this historic August 17, 1942 mission as well as many others. If you are interested in downloading a PDF draft copy of this book, please let me know and I will email you a Microsoft OneDrive invitation with a download link. My email address is RFlackAttack@hotmail.com
Interestingly this raid was supposed to be in support of the build up to operation Jubilee on the 19th Aug. The lead plane in group 1 Boeing B-17E 41-2578 340BS/97BG Butcher Shop MAJ Paul A. Tibbets (CO 340BS) and COL Frank A. Armstrong (CO97BG). Paul Tibbets - Wikipedia Rick might be an idea to put some information and pictures of your father here as it seems to be sadly lacking any. VIII Bomber Command 1 | American Air Museum in Britain 41-9023 | American Air Museum in Britain
Thanks for your post RCG. I am in fact trying to contact someone associated with the American Air Museum or any related website for the purpose of providing them with an electronic copy of a book that I am nearing completion. This book is about my father's life primarily focused around his military flying career. This book contains many never before seen photos, articles and footnoted stories. Once I have completed the book, I will look for websites (including the one cited in your posting) where I can incorporate applicable information. Once such example is a newspaper article that I have attached to this posting. Thanks.
All the photographs were taken by James Jarche. The man in the first image is Top Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Paul W. Haygreen who flew with your father in "Yankee Doodle." on the Rouen raid.
To RCG: Here is a little feedback regarding the first part of your posting regarding Major Paul A. Tibbets and Colonel Frank A. Armstrong. I have attached a couple of never before seen photos (front and back) taken on January 1, 1943 in North Africa of General Atkinson (97th Bomb Group CO from 27‑Sep‑42 thru 5‑Jan‑43), Major Flack (414th BS CO) and Lt. Col. Tibbets (340th BS CO). Chapter 10 in my book (Command Reassignment to the US Mainland 1943‑1946) contains an in‑depth write‑up regarding Lt. Colonel Rudy Flack, General Frank Armstrong and Lt. Colonel Paul Tibbets and the selection process to determine who would be the commander of a new B‑29 testing and training program. Keep in mind at the time when the short list of candidates were being considered (January thru August 1944), none of them had any idea what the real objective of this command would be. When the Manhattan Project was still in its development stage, Armstrong was the leading candidate (along with Colonel Roscoe C. Wilson, the Army Air Force officer providing liaison support to the project) to command the unit designated to drop the atomic bomb. Armstrong's age and his injury in England mitigated against his selection … The AAF, under the command of General Arnold, now needed to select an officer to command the combat unit (yet to be designated) based on Colonel Roscoe Wilson’s plan. It is important to understand the AAF was seeking a combat unit commander at this point, NOT trying to determine who would pilot the B‑29 to drop the first Atomic Bomb. General Armstrong's first choice to command this combat unit was Lt. Colonel Flack. At this point in time (early 1944), Rudy and Frank's past and current relationship is summarized as follows: After being transferred to the States for Command Duty, Lt. Colonel Rudy Flack was stationed in Ardmore, OK and appointed as the Air Inspector for the 46th BOTW (Bombardment Operations Training Wing) for Heavy Bombers from 17‑Sep‑43 through 31‑Mar‑44, which was under the command of the Second Air Force headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO. The 46th BOTW was under the command of Brigadier General Frank Alton Armstrong, Jr. from 10‑Sep‑43 to 6‑Apr‑44. It was General Armstrong that was instrumental is having Rudy transferred back to the States. Frank assigned Rudy to his new position under his command. Armstrong and Flack were extremely close as they had served together from 31‑Jul‑42 when Frank Armstrong took over command of the 97th Bomb Group in England through 27‑Sep‑42 after which time Armstrong returned to the staff of the VIII Bomber Command under General Ira C. Eaker. As noted earlier in this section under Rudy’s 8th Air Force Bombing Missions recap, they flew combat missions together in England while Rudy commanded the 414th Bomb Squadron. One such combat mission was when Captain Rudy Flack piloted the lead aircraft in the lead group while Colonel Frank Armstrong (the 97th Bomb Group commander) served as his copilot on 21‑Aug‑42 (Mission #4, Wilton Ship Yards in Rotterdam, Holland). Paul Tibbets 1944 Timeline: In March of 1944, Lt. Colonel Paul Tibbets was transferred to Grand Island, Nebraska under the command of General Frank Armstrong who started a B‑29 instructor transition school in preparation for the formal release and official introduction of the B 29 Super Fortresses on May 8, 1944. At that time, the Manhattan Project was preparing to drop a bomb on Germany as well as Japan. On 1‑Sep‑44, Tibbets reported to Second Air Force Headquarters located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO where he was told that he would be in charge of the 509th Composite Group. On 17‑Dec‑44 the 509th was officially announced. Rudy Flack 1944 Timeline: Early 1944 General Armstrong approached Rudy regarding a new command opportunity. To make a long story short (the long story is documented in my book), Rudy’s wife (Dorothy) became pregnant in early 1944 (due in early November 1944). Dorothy began having issues with her pregnancy in the weeks to follow. Of sad note, Dorothy Flack had a miscarriage in May 1944, and Rudy and Dorothy lost what would have been their second child, a girl. After serious consideration, Rudy cordially declined the offer due to family matters, of which Frank was fully aware. Rudy felt it was not in the family’s best interest to commit to such an assignment that would require his full time attention and significant time away from his wife and son for the duration of the assignment. Frank fully understood and respected Rudy’s decision though Frank would revisit the matter in the weeks and months to follow just in case Rudy had a change of heart. Lt. Colonel Flack was prompted on 1‑Jun‑44 to Director of Training for the 220th AAF Bomb Unit (B‑17’s and B‑29’s) and continued through 20‑Jun‑45. The 220th AAF Bomb Unit Training, with Lt. Colonel Flack as its Director, would encompass the 509th Composite Group under the command of Lt. Colonel Paul Tibbets. The 509th was drafted in September 1944 and officially created on December 17, 1944. Refer to the attached personal letter from Frank Armstrong to Rudy Flack on April 1, 1944, which exemplifies several of many reasons why General Frank Armstrong's first choice was Lt. Colonel Rudy Flack.
Guy: Thank you for your posting the August 29, 1942 newspaper article. This is one that I have not seen before. I see the newspaper article name of "Illustrated". Do have any other details regarding which newspaper actually printed this article. I have attached a copy of a photo that appeared on the Cover of the Sunday New York Times Magazine on 6-Sep-42. The photo shows four of the Yankee Doodle crew members who are from left to right: Lt. Carl E. Schultz (Bombardier), Captain Rudolph E. Flack (Pilot, Flight Leader, 414th CO, Base and Mission Commander), Lt John R. Dowswell (Copilot) and Sergeant Paul W. Haygreen (Engineer and Waist Gunner). For those who are interested, refer to the following BritishPathe.com link of a video with audio where Captain Rudy Flack is introduced as the Commanding Officer for the 17-Aug-42 mission by Colonel Frank Armstrong (97th Bomb Group CO) at the 1 minute and 14 second mark of the news clip; whereby, Captain Flack then stands in front of the entire bomb group to present his pre-mission briefing statement, which completes at the 1 minute and 34 second mark: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=23107
Guy: I just checked my email and saw where you identified the specific publishers of these newspaper articles, so please ignore my inquiry above and thank you for this information. Refer to the attached Loading List and Flight Report identifying each crewman who flew aboard the B-17E Yankee Doodle (41-9023) for the 17-Aug-42 mission.
This day in history ... August 17, 1942: The first All American Flying Fortress combat bombing mission over German occupied territory in Europe (the Sotteville Railroad Marshaling Yards located in Rouen, France) took place 75 years ago today. Major Rudy Flack played a key role in this mission as he was assigned to the VIII Bomber Command as the Commander of the 414th Bomb Squadron. For those who are WWII Army Air Force history buff's please read on. The August 17, 1942 mission is detailed in Chapter 8 -- Combat Missions in Europe with the 8th Air Force (1942), which is located in the following OneDrive link: https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-m2KWohzZoQAY-HS6 Here you will find 32 PDF documents consisting of: ► A draft copy of the "main" book containing 12 chapters (The Amazing Story of Another Real American Hero - Colonel Rudy Flack - Main Book.pdf) ► Twelve Individual standalone PDF's for each of the 12 chapters ► Sixteen "This Date in History" individual stories (each a separate PDF) ► Lastly, three appendices (A -- Scrapbook, C -- Flying Log Book from 1-Nov-1937 thru 3-Apr-1939 and D -- Flying Log Book from June 1938 thru 28 Dec 1945
