Robert B. Clay with his first bomber crew.
Back row from left : Lt. R. B. Clay, Pilot, Lt. James W Emerson, Lt. Marshall Pullen, Lt. Stanley A Walaszek..
Front row from left: Sgt. James W Riley, Sgt. Charles Jilcott, top turret, Sgt. Frank H. Belsinger, Sgt. Michael De Marie, Sgt. Daniel Surprise, Left waist, Sgt. Franklin L Travis
Photo “Flak so thick you could walk on it” Taken from a B17 on the 6th of May 1944 over Berlin.
Stormy Weather was part of that bomber group.
B-17G "Stormy Weather" at Polebrook Airfield, Northamptonshire, England, Springtime 1944
42-31879 "The Shark" with rear: Lt. George L. Sullivan, Capt. Daniel E. McCafferty. front: Capt. Robert E. Lee, Capt. Leslie S. Cruthirds and Lt. James H. Wimmer. Capt Daniel E. McCafferty was pilot on Stormy Weathers first mission in January 1944
Lt. Wimmer was rear gunner on Stormy Weather on the 24th of May 1944. Lt. Wimmer was pilot and had 24 missions in his files. On the evening the 23rd of May he asked Capt. Clay to join the crew next morning to get 25 missions and a "ticket" home to USA. Looking back it was a bad idea.
5th. December 1943 was Lt. R. B. Clay pilot on B17 with serial no 42-30499 “My Princess” Mission : Paris
30st. Dec 1943 was Lt. R. B. Clay pilot on B17 with serial no 42-29860 ”Snoozin Susan” Mission : Ludvigshafen.
The 6 of the crewmen landed on a line from just behind the houses and to the threes in the horizon.
Niels Good who helped a crewman that landed on his field when he was painting his house together with his daugther Ellen. They hide the parachute in a hunting cottage, but it was later found by the German soldiers. The locals managed to hide a few parachutes, they were later used for wedding dresses, the white cross in a danish flag, and other purposes. Fabrics was difficult to get during and after the war, and parachutes was made of a very good quality for clothing.
The house of Maria and Anna Clausen, Rugbjervej no. 10 in the village of Klingbjerg. Here 6 of the crewmen had somthing to eat and drink before German soldiers arrested them. The two missing crewman were in a house in Svenstrup half a mile away.
The parts of Stormy Weather loaded on truck late May 1944
Svenstrup Athletic Association late fourties with their Danish flag. The white cross in the flag and logo was made out of a parachute from "Stormy Weather" This flag was on display at the Reunion day.
B17 bombs gone
Wedding dress made from a Stormy Weather parachute at the end of 2nd World War. This dress was on display at the Reunion day.
Baptism dress made from Stormy Weather parachute.
Wedding dress made from Stormy Weather parachute. A quarter of a parachute was needed to make one dress.
Captain Robert B. Clay's 12th mission on feb the 21st. 1944, were he lead the wing. He flew his own plane that day "Clay Pigeon"
From left : Lt. Marshall Pullen, Navigator, Capt. R.B. Clay, Pilot, Lt.Col. Air commander, Capt. Baird B.
The target assigned was Gutersloh, Germany but bad weather forced the planes to bomb elsewhere. The airfield at Achmer was picked as a target of opportunity. Sixteen planes were assigned to the lead box led by Colonel Cobb. Over the target 15 to 25 enemy fighters were encountered, including several twin-engine planes. However, most of theses did not make vigorous attacks, but considerable accurate flak was encountered. 2 planes from the formation crash-landed but the crews were safe. 1 plane crashed, and only one from that saved his life.