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Archive Report: US Forces
1941 - 1945
Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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04.02.1944 418 Bomber Squadron B17F 42-30758 “Satcha Lass” Lt. Ross McPhee

Operation: Frankfurt

Date: February 4th 1944 

Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron 

Type: B17F Flying Fortress 

Serial: 42-30758   “Satcha Lass”  (Also known previously as “Rosie’s Riveters”)

Code: LD - ?

Base: Thorpe Abbotts 

Location: Rödingen Germany 

Pilot: 1lt. Ross E. McPhee  0-8021184  USAAF  PoW Stalag Luft 1 

Co-Pilot: 2lt. Fred J. Nelson 886586 USAAF PoW  Stalag Luft 1 

Nav: 2lt. Martin S. Keker 0-803075 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft 1 

Air/Bmr: 2lt. Bernard B. Levine 0-563633 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft 1 

R/O/Gnr: S/Sgt. Herbert Shope 15353774 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft 4 

B/T/Gnr: S/Sgt. Libero J. Bernagozzi 32657833 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft 4 

TT/Eng: S/Sgt. Gordon Scarlett 19109207 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft 4 

R/W/Gnr: S/Sgt. David J. Shaw 39080497 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft 4 

L/W/Gnr: S/Sgt. Blon H. Pate 34587678 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft 4 

T/Gnr: S/Sgt. Jacob T. Delamar 34602522 USAAF PoW Stalag Luft 4 

Reason for loss: 

The aircraft was previously named as “Rosie’s Riveters” by the previous pilot, Robert Rosenthal after the girls back in the USA who built the bombers. It had been damaged severely on the 8th October 1943 under going extensive repairs before being returned to service. 

Pilot Lt. Ross McPhee and his crew took over the aircraft and were on their ninth mission when the aircraft was hit by flak over Germany. The crew remained in the aircraft whilst the pilot brought it for a crash landing in a meadow. No injuries were reported and all the crew taken PoW.

Report and photographs submitted by Michel Beckers in October 2014 - in recognition of the crew.

Below: The aircraft whilst under Robert Rosenthal and named "Rosie Riveters.

Front Row (L-R): 2nd Lt. Ronald C. Bailey - navigator, Capt. Robert Rosenthal - pilot (flew two tours for a total of 52 missions) 2nd Lt. Clifford T. Milburn - bombardier, 2nd Lt. Winfrey Lewis - co-pilot.

Back Row (L-R): S/Sgt. Loren F. Darling - right waist gunner, T/Sgt. Michael V. Boccuzzi - radio operator, Sgt. James F. Mack - left waist gunner, T/Sgt. Clarence C. Hall - engineer/top turret gunner, S/Sgt. William J. DeBlasio - tail gunner, S/Sgt. Ray H. Robinson - ball turret gunner.

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