HELL'S BELLES
42-30157 B-17F
91/323 OR-p

Assigned on 10th June 1943, this F model Fortress only lasted about six weeks with the group before over running the runway on return from a mission to Kassel. The name “Dirty Gertie” is sometimes attributed to this plane also but photographs of the cracked up aircraft clearly show it was carrying the title “Hell’s Belles” on the left side at the time of the accident. They also show it with a single .30 machine gun mounted on a ball socket set in the nose cone; an early attempt to find a solution to the Luftwaffe’s punishing head-on assaults.

Available records of the 323rd Squadron’s early missions are somewhat inadequate and do not reveal the serials of the individual airplanes dispatched on each mission. Consequently, it is not know how many previous missions the aircraft completed. An aborted mission is recorded on 26th July with 1/Lt.Bennett’s crew on board, but no credit was given for that sortie. It is the only combat flight so far established for the plane prior to 30th July.

The pilot, 1/Lt.Donald Van de Heyde” is recorded as having turned back shortly after crossing the Dutch coast on the 30th July. The plane had its hydraulics system shot out and consequently on landing it overran the runway with no brakes and ploughed through a field of oats. Only a deep ditch stopped it but substantial damage was caused to the left wing resulting in the collapse of the No.2 engine onto the ground and the left main undercarriage being torn away.

Declared salvage on 25th August, “Hell’s Belles” was transferred to Air Force Service Command.

"Story taken from Plane Names & Fancy Noses, by Ray Bowden"