| Original caption: “Air Force personnel and equipment. United States Bomber crew somewhere in England. Lieutenant James M. Stewart, Marrowbone, Kentucky, Lieutenant William W. Dickey, Junior, Beverly, Massachusetts, Staff Sergeant Raymond C. Schmoyer, East Greenville, Pennsylvania, Staff Sergeant Hugh L. Langan, Los Angeles, California, Thomas E. McMillan, Boonville, Ohio, Technical Sergeant Charles J. Merriwether, Sanford, Florida, Technical Sergeant Jack M. Wheeler, Des Moines, Iowa, Lieutenant John A. Creamer, Louisville, Kentucky. 367th Bomb Squadron, Thurleigh, England.” The crew of Boeing B-17F-10-BO Flying Fortress 41-24486, “Man-O-War,” stands before their aircraft. Built at the Boeing factory in Seattle, Washington, 41-24486 was accepted by the United States Army Air Force on July 17, 1942, less than 4 months before the aircraft was shot down. The B-17F was flown to San Antonio Air Depot, Duncan Field, San Antonio, Texas, on July 22, 1942. 41-24486 was 1 of the original B-17Fs of the 367th Bomb Squadron at Westover Field, Massachusetts, August 15-28, 1942. The 8th Air Force started regular combat operations on August 17, 1942. Departing on September 5, 1942, 41-24486 arrived via Presque Isle, Gander, Prestwick, and Royal Air Force (RAF) Station Thurleigh on September 6, 1942. Assigned to the 367th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force on September 8, 1942. The aircraft flew its 1st combat mission on October 9, 1942, to the Compagnie de Fives steel works at Lille, France; the aircraft sustained battle damage to the Number 2 engine on this mission. Dropping out of formation, an RAF Spitfire led 41-24486 to Manston Field, Kent, United Kingdom. On October 26, 1942, the aircraft was assigned to Operation Wildflower, which planned attacks on U-boat pens in Saint-Nazaire, France. “Man-O-War” (March 29, 1917 – November 1, 1947) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as 1 of the greatest racehorses of all time. A horse was painted on 41-24486 before November 6, 1942. Pilot 2nd Lieutenant James M. Stewart (April 12, 1920 – November 9, 1942), Marrowbone, Kentucky, enlisted July 9, 1941, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. With Ball Turret Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond C. Schmoyer (March 10, 1918 – November 9, 1942), East Greenville, Pennsylvania, and Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Technical Sergeant Charles J. Merriwether, Junior (February 8, 1920 – November 9, 1942), Sanford, Florida, the 3 were assigned to a different aircraft in August 1942. Schmoyer enlisted in Philadelphia on January 5, 1942. Merriwether graduated from Seminole High School in 1938 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Florida, Gainesville. Merriwether enlisted on September 15, 1941, in Jacksonville. The other members of the crew were Co-Pilot 2nd Lieutenant William W Dickey, Junior (July 3, 1919 – November 9, 1942), Beverly, Massachusetts, (KIA) enlisted July 3, 1941, at Boston, Massachusetts; Navigator 1st Lieutenant Joseph A. Creed (January 8, 1917 – November 9, 1942), enlisted February 11, 1941, at Detroit, Michigan; Bombardier 2nd Lieutenant John A. Creamer (December 26, 1919 – November 9, 1942), Louisville, Kentucky, passed the Air Corps physical on October 5, 1940, and enlisted October 7, 1941, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana; Radio Operator Technical Sergeant Thomas E. McMillan (March 13, 1918 – November 9, 1942) of Boonville, Ohio, enlisted at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio on February 14, 1942; Waist Gunner Sergeant George R. Rumph (December 9, 1922 – November 9, 1942) of Little River, Texas, enlisted at Fort Sam Houston, Texas on September 30, 1941; Waist Gunner Staff Sergeant Jack M. Wheeler (May 3, 1923 – November 9, 1942) Des Moines, Iowa, graduated from North High School and enlisted at Fort Des Moines, Iowa on August 6, 1941; Tail Gunner Sergeant Martin R. Barthe (March 15, 1922 – November 9, 1942) of Santa Clara, California enlisted at San Francisco, California on January 5, 1942; Gunner/Observer Staff Sergeant Hugh L. Langan (June 8, 1923 – November 9, 1942) of Los Angeles, California, was listed as observer on the last flight, which made a crew of 11 men. The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, are the target of the 18th mission conducted by the 8th Air Force. A combined force of 33 B-17s from the 91st Bomb Group and the 306th Bomb Group, together with a combined force of 14 Consolidated B-24 Liberators from the 44th Bomb Group and the 93rd Bomb Group. The B-24 formation bombs from altitudes between 17,500 feet and 18,300 feet (5,300 meters to 5,600 meters). The B-17 formation is ordered to bomb from altitudes between 7,500 feet to 10,000 feet (2,300 meters to 3,000 meters), in hopes of increasing bombing accuracy and concentration on the target. The B-17 formation is pounded by anti-aircraft fire, with 3 aircraft lost and another 22 taking damage. This was the last time heavy bombers would attempt low-level approaches. The mission dropped 68.5 tons of explosives; out of the 33 aircraft dispatched, 31 made the target. 23 Americans were killed, and 8 were Prisoners of War. 3 aircraft, including “Man-O-War,” were lost to Flugzeugabwehrkanone (Flak; “Anti-Aircraft Artillery”) and 22 were damaged. A school was destroyed near the target by errant bombs, killing 134 apprentice students. A total of a 180 French civilians died in the raid, including apprentice student Marcel Auguste Cabanes (June 13, 1928 – November 9, 1942). B-17F 41-24486 “Man-O-War,” left the target area and attempted to fly back across the channel. Instead, Stewart and his crew were killed in action when the aircraft crashed into the Bay of Biscay. The Number 2 engine was dead, and 2 others were damaged at the time of the crash. A Nazi German launch was observed heading towards the crash site. The Missing Air Crew Report states, “Lieutenant Stewart’s plane was out of formation. It was seen to level off for a water landing approximately ten miles (sixteen kilometers) from the target in the Bay of Biscay. There is a difference of opinion among those who watched it as to whether or not the plane exploded upon contact with the water. ‘Nothing has been heard from any member of the crew as to Prisoner of War status or as to any of them being safe.’” With conflicting eyewitness reports, no report of Prisoners of War from the Red Cross, and no wreckage recovered, the missing men were finally declared dead on November 9, 1943. The families pressed the United States Army Air Force for information, but none was forthcoming. 41-24486 was struck off charge on November 4, 1944. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0976.jpg |
| Image Size | 954.28 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2908 x 2352 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 5, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | Thurleigh |
| State or Province | Bedfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NRE-338-FTL(EF)-2700(4) |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database