Daily Archives: December 31, 2015

Present your best items with Auctiva’s FREE Scrolling Gallery. 1944 Superb 8th ARMY AIR FORCE Lot Pilot Selwyn Flowers, logs, maps, documents +. SEE FULL DESCRIPTION BELOW IMAGE. We do not sell copy or repro material. A superb lot that belonged to Pilot SELWYN. FLOWERS of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. His Log Book, Several Pilot Note books with Flight Formations, Pilots names and Target details, Badges and buttons etc of his uniform, documents, actual flight Operational maps to targets in Germany etc. First Aid Tin, Crew Photo’s, Bomb Reccon Photos, Certificates, etc. FLOWERS CREW – 427th BS. (crew assigned 427BS: 30 June 1944 – photo: 10 Aug 1944). (crew assigned 427BS: 30 June 1944 – photo: June 1944). (Back L-R) S/Sgt Joseph P. Kiely (E), Sgt Robert H. McCormick (BT) Sgt Charles E. Schulz (TG), S/Sgt Charles P. (Front L-R) 2Lt Selwyn D. Flowers (P), F/O John R. Olson (B), 2Lt John P. T he 427th Bombardment Squadron was originally the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron. The 427th BS became famous with its parent, the 303rd Bombardment Group (H). Because of its initial move in the Pacific, 427th Squadron members are entitled to wear the Asia-Pacific Campaign ribbon. The Squadron brought nine B-17 aircraft from the United States and arrived at Molesworth, England with the following: S for Sugar, Susfu, Kali, Memphis Tot, Joe Btfsplk, Jerry Jinx, Bad Check and two aircraft with no names. The Squadron Commander, Major Charles C. Sheridan was aboard S for Sugar, that went on to almost a record of 50 missions, but got shot down on her 49th. Major Sheridan was the only Squadron or Group Commander of the 303rd Bombardment Group to be lost during the entire war. He was shot down on 3 January 1943 while leading his Squadron on a mission to St. Nazaire, France in #41-24517 Kali. Also lost on this mission was another 427th B-17, 41-24620 Snap! Members of the Ground Echelon had the same kinds of problems as other operating Squadrons in getting set-up and running smoothly at Molesworth. Much of their equipment and personal items were delayed in arriving, and the men were struggling with the different manner in which the British were operating. Upon the loss of Major Sheridan, Captain Glenn E. Hagenbuch was named as the Squadron’s new Commanding Officer, and continued to serve in that position until he was sent on a special mission to North Africa and upon his return was transferred to VIII Bomber Command. He was replaced by Major Edgar E. Snyder, Jr on 13 July 1943. Word was received that Major Hagenbuch was killed in a P-40 crash while flying in England. Snyder served until 1 November 1944, when he was named as Deputy Commanding Officer of the 303rd Bombardment Group. Sheets was appointed as the Squadron Commander upon the departure of Lt. 427th Bomb Squadron – 2 During the early days of the war, the Bomb Squadrons took turns “standing down” which gave the maintenance section an opportunity to catch up on the work of keeping their aircraft airworthy. All but two of its original aircraft were gone by the 32nd mission flown by the Group, with Bad Check and S for Sugar competing for honors of being the first B-17 to complete 50 missions. Organizationally, the 427th Bombardment Squadron was similar to the other three Bombardment Squadrons. It had the normal S-1 (Personnel); S-2 (Intelligence); S-3 (Operations); and S-4 (Maintenance & Supply). Supporting sections included the Adjutant, Communications, Armament, Chemical, Ordnance and Utilities, etc. All around the clock, the Ground Support Echelons of the Bomb Squadrons were hard pressed to ensure that their aircraft and flight crews were ready to take off and destroy enemy targets. Some relief was possible when they saw the last of their B-17s lift off on their way to their target. But that was only temporary, as they knew that they had to get back to doing the things that would allow the Squadron to put another formation of B-17s in the air the following morning. Everyone at Molesworth was dedicated to the success of the mission, and all personnel serving in the Ground Support Echelon set high standards to make sure that all the required tasks were performed in a timely manner. Powered by SixBit’s eCommerce Solution. The item “1944 Superb 8th ARMY AIR FORCE Lot Pilot Selwyn Flowers, logs, maps, documents +” is in sale since Tuesday, December 29, 2015. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\Other Militaria\Air Force”. The seller is “atlantic-fox” and is located in Maryport. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Type: Collection
• Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)
• Service: Air Force
• Country/ Organization: United States
• Squadron or Unit: 427th BS, 303 Bomb Group
• Continent: Europe
• Theme: Military