42-31724, Dear M.O.M.

447th Bomb Group
USAAF Station 126 - Rattlesden
42-31724, Dear M.O.M.

42-31724, Dear M.O.M., a B-17G-10-BO built in Seattle in October 1943, and was delivered to the 447th at Rattlesden on January 18, 1944, and assigned to the 708th Squadron.

724 was to become the replacement for the Gilleran crew's 42-31145, Hi-Jinx, lost on February 6 over France with the Reed crew on board.

The name Dear M.O.M. was chosen by the Gilleran crew as a tribute to their bombardier, Lt. Marion O. McGurer, who was wounded in action on Feburary 4 and removed from flight duty.

Combat Missions

No.	DATE	TARGET	PILOT
1	02/20/44	TUTOW	Gilleran
2	02/21/44	DIEPHOLZ	Goetz
3	02/24/44	ROSTOCK	Gilleran
4	02/25/44	REGENSBURG	Gilleran
5	02/28/44	NOBALL NO. 74 BOIS DE LA JUSTICE	Eastman
6	02/29/44	BRUNSWICK	Gilleran
7	03/03/44	BERLIN - RECALL	Gilleran
8	03/09/44	BERLIN	Gilleran
9	03/11/44	MUNSTER	Gilleran
10	03/11/44	MUNSTER	Johnson, K.A.
11	03/15/44	BRUNSWICK	Gilleran
12	03/22/44	BERLIN	Gilleran
13	03/26/44	NOBALL NO. 93 LA SORELLERIE	Gilleran
14	03/27/44	MARIGNAC CHARTRES	Gilleran
15	03/28/44	CHARTRES	Gilleran
16	04/01/44	LUDWIGSHAFEN	Gilleran
17	04/10/44	DIEST SCHAFFEN	Flemming
18	04/11/44	ARNIMSWALDE	Eastman
19	04/13/44	AUGSBURG	Gilleran
20	04/18/44	ORANIENBURG RATHNOW	Davis
21	04/20/44	NOBALL	Gilleran
22	04/22/44	HAMM	Gilleran

Amid flak bursts, Dear M.O.M. is seen going down in flames
Photo from Harley Tuck's collection

As listed in MACR 4174, A/C 42-31724 Dear M.O.M.
Pilot	Lt Thomas W. Gilleran	POW
Copilot	2Lt Henry E. Mamlock	POW
Navigator	2Lt Richard L. Lazarus	POW
Bombardier	2Lt Louis T. Wigdorwitz	POW
Top Turret	T/Sgt Charles H. McHugh	POW
Radio Operator	T/Sgt Harley H. Tuck	POW
Ball Turret	S/Sgt M. D. Harris	POW
Left Waist	S/Sgt Fred T. Hawley	POW
Right Waist	S/Sgt Eugene A. Kealer	POW
Tail Gunner	S/Sgt Donald A. Worley	POW