Help Identifying Great Uncle's B-17

Yesak23 · Dec 20, 2024

This is interesting/maybe helpful,
It became known as Alexandria Army Air Base at its opening on October 21, 1942. The 799th Bombardment Squadron of the 2nd Air Force subsequently used the base for the training of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crews. In March of 1943, the base was reassigned to the 3rd Air Force under the command of Col. Quentin T. Quick.

CATCH 22 · Dec 20, 2024

mjfur said:
The photos in general, what the crew is wearing, etc., gives me the impression that these photos were taken Stateside while in Training. Not 100% sure, but best guess. While it was rare some training aircraft did have names applied.

I have not seen (so far) a training aircraft with the name of a crew chief. IMHO the latter was a member of a combat crew.
I agree about the gear and clothing though.

Yesak23 · Dec 20, 2024

I found more information (see pic). After training in Alexandria, LA, he was commissioned in Coral Gables, FL. Could this help track him down? Thanks!

fubar57 · Dec 20, 2024

Have you tried here? Request Military Service Records

Yesak23 · Dec 20, 2024

fubar57 said:
Have you tried here? Request Military Service Records

Not yet. I'll hit that up. Thanks!

coffman · Dec 21, 2024

Yesak23 said:
Hi!
I have a family mystery I hope someone one here can solve.
I've been trying to identify my Great Uncle's B-17 from WW2 to no avail. I have some pictures attached, but they have limited information. One picture has a little bit of the nose art that I hope will help identify it. His name was Roy L. Simmons Jr. and he was a Navigator. He made it back from the war and died in the 1970's I believe. I never met him.
Once identified, I would like to do some research on it. I appreciate any help the anyone here can provide!!

Thank you!!
Yesak23

one place to look in are the NARA records

NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Reserve Corps Records)

aad.archives.gov

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	NAME	RESIDENCE: STATE	RESIDENCE: COUNTY	PLACE OF ENLISTMENT	DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR	SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL	YEAR OF BIRTH

14192909 SIMMONS#ROY#L#jr MISSISSIPPI JONES LAUREL AAF MISSISSIPPI 42 Civil Life 22

14192909

SIMMONS#ROY#L#JR########

MISSISSIPPI

JONES

LAUREL AAF MISSISSIPPI

42

Civil Life

22

SaparotRob · Dec 21, 2024

The people and the resources they bring here are astounding.

coffman · Dec 21, 2024

Yesak23 said:
Hi!
I have a family mystery I hope someone one here can solve.
I've been trying to identify my Great Uncle's B-17 from WW2 to no avail. I have some pictures attached, but they have limited information. One picture has a little bit of the nose art that I hope will help identify it. His name was Roy L. Simmons Jr. and he was a Navigator. He made it back from the war and died in the 1970's I believe. I never met him.
Once identified, I would like to do some research on it. I appreciate any help the anyone here can provide!!

Thank you!!
Yesak23

one place to look in are the NARA records

NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Reserve Corps Records)

aad.archives.gov

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	NAME	RESIDENCE: STATE	RESIDENCE: COUNTY	PLACE OF ENLISTMENT	DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR	SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL	YEAR OF BIRTH

14192909

SIMMONS#ROY#L#JR########

MISSISSIPPI

JONES

LAUREL AAF MISSISSIPPI

42

Civil Life

22

Yesak23 · Dec 21, 2024

coffman said:
one place to look in are the NARA records

NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Reserve Corps Records)

aad.archives.gov

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER NAME RESIDENCE: STATE RESIDENCE: COUNTY PLACE OF ENLISTMENT DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL YEAR OF BIRTH

14192909 SIMMONS#ROY#L#JR######## MISSISSIPPI JONES LAUREL AAF MISSISSIPPI 42 Civil Life 22

Sweet! Thanks!!

butchthebear · Dec 21, 2024

Yesak23 said:
Hi!
I have a family mystery I hope someone one here can solve.
I've been trying to identify my Great Uncle's B-17 from WW2 to no avail. I have some pictures attached, but they have limited information. One picture has a little bit of the nose art that I hope will help identify it. His name was Roy L. Simmons Jr. and he was a Navigator. He made it back from the war and died in the 1970's I believe. I never met him.
Once identified, I would like to do some research on it. I appreciate any help the anyone here can provide!!

Thank you!!
Yesak23

I found 7 birds w/ the last 3 letters of the name len: in the data base: Queen of the skies b17flyingfortress.de/
41-24432 Danellen
42-3285 Mary Ellen
42-3433 Lena
42-5613 Jackie Ellen
42-29981 Hell-Lena
43-37706 Satan's Chillen
43-37735 My Gal Ellen

I hope this helps in your quest

butchthebear · Dec 21, 2024

Yesak23 said:
Hi!
I have a family mystery I hope someone one here can solve.
I've been trying to identify my Great Uncle's B-17 from WW2 to no avail. I have some pictures attached, but they have limited information. One picture has a little bit of the nose art that I hope will help identify it. His name was Roy L. Simmons Jr. and he was a Navigator. He made it back from the war and died in the 1970's I believe. I never met him.
Once identified, I would like to do some research on it. I appreciate any help the anyone here can provide!!

Thank you!!
Yesak23

Yesak23 · Dec 21, 2024

butchthebear said:
I found 7 birds w/ the last 3 letters of the name len: in the data base: Queen of the skies b17flyingfortress.de/
41-24432 Danellen
42-3285 Mary Ellen
42-3433 Lena
42-5613 Jackie Ellen
42-29981 Hell-Lena
43-37706 Satan's Chillen
43-37735 My Gal Ellen

I hope this helps in your quest

thank you! No luck on these unfortunately.

Wurger · Dec 21, 2024

butchthebear said:
I found 7 birds w/ the last 3 letters of the name len: in the data base: Queen of the skies b17flyingfortress.de/
41-24432 Danellen
42-3285 Mary Ellen
42-3433 Lena
42-5613 Jackie Ellen
42-29981 Hell-Lena
43-37706 Satan's Chillen
43-37735 My Gal Ellen

I hope this helps in your quest

B-17 41-24432 Danellen sounds good ...

We may exclude the My Gal Ellen ...

the source: #?? "MY GAL ELLEN" | 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in World War II

and the Satan's Chillen

the source: media-52615.jpeg | American Air Museum

also the Hell-Lena as the name ends with the "ena" while the requsted one with the "len"

the source: B-17 #42-29981 Photo | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies

and not the Jackie Ellen ... not the font type and not the colour of them

The source: media-45701.jpeg | American Air Museum

The 42-3433 Lena for the same reason as the Hell-Lena

The Marry Ellen has alrady been excluded ... not that font type

the source: Archived Gallery 1 - 385th BGA

Wurger · Dec 21, 2024

Additionally not the 42-336 Marie Helena ...

the source: B-17 Flying Fortress Serial 42-3386

coffman · Dec 21, 2024

Yesak23 said:
Sweet! Thanks!!

Does any of the above record i posted add up ? i am uk so do not know about any of the locations , in the usa, also do you know his social security number ? also he may of got a military pension ?, i found a lighter with a service number on, and was told the person was paid a military pension till he died. also try military records in National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Dr, St. Louis, MO 63138. from there web site.
This site provides information regarding military personnel, health, and medical records stored at NPRC (MPR).

If you are a veteran or next-of-kin of a deceased veteran, you may now use vetrecs.archives.gov to order a copy of your military records. For all others, your request is best made using a Standard Form 180. It includes complete instructions for preparing and submitting requests. good luck

butchthebear · Dec 22, 2024

Wurger said:
B-17 41-24432 Danellen sounds good ...

We may exclude the My Gal Ellen ...

View attachment 811048
the source: #?? "MY GAL ELLEN" | 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in World War II

and the Satan's Chillen

View attachment 811053
the source: media-52615.jpeg | American Air Museum

also the Hell-Lena as the name ends with the "ena" while the requsted one with the "len"

View attachment 811049
the source: B-17 #42-29981 Photo | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies

and not the Jackie Ellen ... not the font type and not the colour of them

View attachment 811051
The source: media-45701.jpeg | American Air Museum

The 42-3433 Lena for the same reason as the Hell-Lena

The Marry Ellen has alrady been excluded ... not that font type

View attachment 811052
the source: Archived Gallery 1 - 385th BGA

B-17 #43-37735 Photo | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies

Photo of the B-17 Flying Fortress #43-37735

b17flyingfortress.de

Yesak23 · Dec 22, 2024

coffman said:
Does any of the above record i posted add up ? i am uk so do not know about any of the locations , in the usa, also do you know his social security number ? also he may of got a military pension ?, i found a lighter with a service number on, and was told the person was paid a military pension till he died. also try military records in National Personnel Records Center, 1 Archives Dr, St. Louis, MO 63138. from there web site.
This site provides information regarding military personnel, health, and medical records stored at NPRC (MPR).

If you are a veteran or next-of-kin of a deceased veteran, you may now use vetrecs.archives.gov to order a copy of your military records. For all others, your request is best made using a Standard Form 180. It includes complete instructions for preparing and submitting requests. good luck

No luck yet. The info was indeed helpful! I will probably send a request to the National Archives.

OldGeezer · Dec 23, 2024

It's a bit sloppy, but this adds a few to the "LEN" possibilities, I think. From Wallace Forman's monumental "B-17 Nose Art Name Directory" of course.

CATCH 22 · Dec 23, 2024

coffman said:
one place to look in are the NARA records

NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Reserve Corps Records)

aad.archives.gov

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER NAME RESIDENCE: STATE RESIDENCE: COUNTY PLACE OF ENLISTMENT DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL YEAR OF BIRTH

14192909 SIMMONS#ROY#L#JR######## MISSISSIPPI JONES LAUREL AAF MISSISSIPPI 42 Civil Life 22

Please, keep in mind that the Army Serial from the Enlistment records is not the true serial of the airman. He was on officer and his AAF-serial will start with O-xxxxxx. Also the place of enlistment is not his training base etc. Enlistment records are good for date of enlistment, age of the person, and eventually his position in civil life. They are not very helpful for the military life of the enlisted.
I believe when the military records of Roy Simmons Jr. are present, his serial #, unit and war activities will become much more clear

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