Sidney L. Underdown Crew

SIDNEY L. UNDERDOWN CREW - 359th BS
(crew assigned 359BS: 15 July 1944 - photo: 17 August 1944)

1Lt Sidney L. Underdown (P), 2Lt William C. Knolle (CP),
1Lt John P. Kenny (N), 2Lt Joseph C. Tyree (B)

Sgt Richard G. Stevens (TG)(front, left), Sgt Frank G. Posada (R)(KIA), Sgt Walter R. Guptill (BT),
T/Sgt John J. Kuwik (E), Sgt Pius L. Botton (WG)

(crewmen are not in order)
(Ranks and Grades at time of last combat mission.)

Forty-one dispatched (35 credited) combat missions flown by 1Lt Sidney L. Underdown:
213 (28 July 1944), 214, 215(A), 219(FTO), 223 (8 Aug 1944), 224, 229, 230, 231(A), 232, 233, 236 (5 Sept 1944), 238, 239, 241, 244, 246, 250 (A)(3 Oct 1944), 253(A), 264, 255, 257, 261, 263, 266 (2 Nov 1944), 267, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275(A), 276, 278, 279, 280, 285 (11 Dec 1944), 286, 287(DLC), 288(DLC), 291A(LC), 292 (29 Dec 1944).
For Mission dates, targets and Mission Reports, see Combat Missions
(FTO) Non Credited - Failed to take off -- (A) Non Credited - Aborted mission
(DLC) Deputy Lead Crew Pilot (LC) Lead Crew Pilot

Non Credited Aborted missions:

215 - 31 July 44 - (Flight time 3:14) Pilot's oxygen system out. Reluctant to continue on the emergency bottles.
231 - 24 Aug 44 - (Flight time 5:15) - #4 prop governor failure
250 - 03 Oct 44 - Oxygen system failure - Anoxia of crewman
253 - 07 Oct 44 - Mechanical failure
275 - 21 Nov 44 - Mechanical failure

Twenty-one B-17Gs flown by 1Lt Sidney L. Underdown on his 41 dispatched combat missions:

42-31830 (P) Marie (359BS) BN-N - Missions 213, 233
44-6076 (P) Liberty Run (359BS) BN-Y - Mission 214
42-31405 Wallaroo Mk II (359BS) BN-X - Mission 215 (A)
42-31483 (P) Bonnie B (359BS) BN-P - Mission 223, 229, 232
42-107206 Old Black Magic (359BS) BN-R - Missions 224, 238
42-97944 (P) Daddy's Delight (359BS) BN-I - Missions 230, 231 (A)
42-102496 (P) Special Delivery aka Big A Bird (359BS) BN-M - Mission 236
43-38289 (P) Sweet La Rhonda (359BS) BN-J - Missions 239, 241
42-102945 (P) Thunderbird (359BS) BN-U - Missions 250 (A), 253 (A), 255
42-102496 (P) Sweet Pea (358BS) VK-M - Mission 254
42-97781 (P) The '8' Ball MK III (359BS) BN-O - Mission 161
43-38608 (P) Lucille (359BS) BN-E - Missions 263, 276
44-8256 (P) Yankee Girl (PFF) (359BS) BN-Y - Mission 291A (LC)
44-6309 (P) Duchess' Granddaughter (359BS) BN-T - Mission 292
42-31183 Bad Penny (359BS) BN-S - Mission 219 (FTO)
44 -8326 (No name) (359BS) BN-S - Missions 244, 246
44-6502 (No name) (359BS) BN-G - Missions 257, 273, 274, 275 (A)
43-38878 (No name) (359BS) BN-D - Missions 266, 270, 271
43-38609 (No name) (359BS) BN-F - Mission 267
43-38682 (No name) (359BS) BN-K - Missions 278, 279, 280, 285, 286
44-8137 (No name) (PFF) 359BS) BN-Z - Missions 287 (DLC) and 288 (DLC)
(P) See: Nose Art Photos

Crew Notes:

1Lt Sidney L. Underdown (P) - Missions flown: All missions flown as First Pilot. First mission (213) flown with 1Lt Lewis M. Walker as Combat Orientation CoPilot. Completed 35 credited missions combat tour on 29 Dec 1944 (Mission 292).
2Lt William C. Knolle (CP) - Missions flown: Twenty-eight with 1Lt Underdown crew. Stood down on mission 213 (All other Underdown crew missions except 285, 288, 291A, 292; Seven with other Pilots: As CoPilot (216, 237, 247, 262, 268, 272). As Lead Crew Tail Gunner/ Observer (248). Completed 35 credited mission combat tour on 30 Nov 1944 (Mission 280).
1Lt John P. Kenny (N) - Missions flown: Thirty-two credited with 1Lt Underdown crew (All Underdown crew missions except 287, 288, 291A, 292); Three with other Pilots (249, 265, 268). Completed 35 credited mission combat tour on 18 Dec 1944 (Mission 287).
2Lt Joseph C. Tyree (B) - Missions flown: Twenty-seven with 1Lt Underdown crew (All Underdown missions except 267, 273, 285, 286, 287, 288, 291A, 292); Eight with other Pilots (237, 247, 249, 265, 267, 268, 277, 282). Completed 35 credited mission combat tour on 4 Dec 1944 (Mission 282).
T/Sgt John T. Kuwik (E) - Missions flown: Thirty-Five with 1Lt Underdown crew (All Underdown missions); With other Pilots (None). Completed 35 credited mission combat tour on 29 Dec 1944 (Mission 292).
Sgt Frank G. Posada (R)(KIA) - Missions flown: Thirteen with 1Lt Underdown (213, 214, 215(A), 219 (FTO), 223, 224, 229, 230, 231(A), 232, 233, 236, 238, 241, 244, 246). Two with other pilots (245, 248). Killed in Action on 28 Sept 1944 (Mission 248, 2Lt William F. Miller (P) in B-17G 42-97187 Miss Umbriago (360BS) PU-I to Magdeburg, Germany ( KIA and 3 POW). Sgt Posada was blown out of the B-17 and was killed.
S/Sgt Walter R Guptill (BTG) - Missions flown: Thirty-four with 1Lt Underdown crew (All Underdown Crew missions except 292); One with another Pilot (265). Completed 35 credited mission combat tour on 22 Dec 1944 (Mission 291A).
Sgt Pius L. Botton (WG) - Missions flown: Twenty-three with 1Lt Underdown crew (All Underdown missions except 236, 238, 239, 266, 267, 270, 271, 273, 274, 292); One with another Pilot (245). Completed twenty-four credited combat missions on 12 Dec 1944 (Mission 286).
Sgt Richard D. Stevens (TG) - Missions flown: Thirty -three with 1Lt Underdown crew (All Underdown missions except 291A and 292). Two with other Pilots (248 and 263), Completed 35 credited mission combat tour on 19 Dec 1944 (Mission 288).

Substitute Crewmen for Sgt Frank G. Posada (R)

T/Sgt Nolan W. Carman (R) - Missions flown: 18 credited missions with 1Lt Underdown Crew (239, 250(A), 253(A), 254, 255, 257, 263, 270, 271, 273, 274, 275(A), 276, 278, 279, 280, 286, 287, 288, 291A, 292); Twelve with other Pilots: With 1Lt John W. Parker (230, 233, 234, 236, 246. 1Lt Patrick M. Brabant (259); Other Lead Crew Pilots (264, 293, 303, 309, 315, 316). Completed combat tour on 16 Feb 1945 (Mission 316).

[photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]