"Fat Stuff", 42-52345, served in the 747th Bomb Squadron until 13 September 1944 when it was transferred to the 454th Bomb Group.

Close up of artwork on "Fat Stuff".

The "Gooney Bird" - click here for more.

BIG STOOP #295

Big Stoop #295 was assigned to Lt. Leslie Rudd and his crew at Hamilton Field in California. They flew it to our base in Italy. Due to aircraft shortages my crew (Lt. W.L. Jackson's) wasn't assigned a plane. We were split up and flew to Italy with other crews. When my crew regrouped we had to "borrow" planes to fly our missions, two of which were on Big Stoop. I was grounded with an eye problem for a week or so. I believe at that time thirty-five missions were required before a crew could go home. My crew was flying without me, getting closer to going home. I decided to fly some catch-up missions, three of those missions were as a waist gunner with Lt. Rudd on Big Stoop. The mission I recall most was on May 10, 1944 to Wiener Neustadt...lots of flak and fighters. I began to think maybe I should have stayed in my tent... especially after seeing two of our planes shot down by enemy fighters. Later we received a Group Citation for this mission. 

From Bob Capp's book "Flying Colts" I noted #295 was still flying as of July 9,1944. Hope she made it back home okay. 

Bob Gullett 

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