Harl Pease B-17 E "Why Don't We Do This More Often"
Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 6:20 pm
I have been following up one of my favorite subjects RAAF aircrew in US units 1942-1943 and found the Co-pilot to Captain Harl Pease on his final mission was Flt Sgt Fredrick Earp one of a number of RAAF personell posted to the 19 Bomb Grp in 1942. The aircraft they were in was an early B-17E 41-2429 "Why Don't We Do This More Often" and it had a very unusual what I believe to be a 4 colour camoflage scheme, I have never seen a B-17 in a 4 colour scheme are any pictures of this aircraft or scheme or profiles drawings available , I have seen one poor quality image of the aircraft on the pacific Wrecks web site and the 4 colour scheme definetly stands out.
RAAF Personel served in many US units in the SW Pacific from early 42 till mid 43 and unfortunatly very little is written about them, Maj Gen John P. Henebry in his excellent book "The Grim Reapers" the third attack group in the pacific never mentioned them in his book at all ,despite the fact at the time of the Battle of The Bismarck Sea 1/4 of the aircrew at the 13th and 90th BS of the 3rd Attack group were Australian and 8 of them won US DFC's for the action, other Australians in actions not mentioned , the B-26 of the 22 nd bomb group that Lyndon Johnson flew his mission he got his silver star for had an Australian co-pilot, the B-26 he should have been in that got shot down on that mission also had an Australian co-pilot, the co-pilot to Captain Robert Chatt in the B-25 "Chatter Box", which mortally damaged the japanese destroyer "Arashio" at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea was RAAF Flying Officer Maurice Carse who got a US DFC and went on to fly a tour with RAAF A-20 Bostons and finished the war as a B-24 flight commander , not bad going a tour in US B-25 Strafers, a tour in A-20's and a tour in B-24's, also more than 40 Australias were KIA flying with US Units early 42 til May43 when they were all pulled out.
RAAF Personel served in many US units in the SW Pacific from early 42 till mid 43 and unfortunatly very little is written about them, Maj Gen John P. Henebry in his excellent book "The Grim Reapers" the third attack group in the pacific never mentioned them in his book at all ,despite the fact at the time of the Battle of The Bismarck Sea 1/4 of the aircrew at the 13th and 90th BS of the 3rd Attack group were Australian and 8 of them won US DFC's for the action, other Australians in actions not mentioned , the B-26 of the 22 nd bomb group that Lyndon Johnson flew his mission he got his silver star for had an Australian co-pilot, the B-26 he should have been in that got shot down on that mission also had an Australian co-pilot, the co-pilot to Captain Robert Chatt in the B-25 "Chatter Box", which mortally damaged the japanese destroyer "Arashio" at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea was RAAF Flying Officer Maurice Carse who got a US DFC and went on to fly a tour with RAAF A-20 Bostons and finished the war as a B-24 flight commander , not bad going a tour in US B-25 Strafers, a tour in A-20's and a tour in B-24's, also more than 40 Australias were KIA flying with US Units early 42 til May43 when they were all pulled out.
