99th

A Douglas - Long Beach-built B-17G (B-17G-50-DL) Flying Fortress, USAAF Ser. No. 44-6430 (c/n 22653). As per the Joe Baugher site: www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_1.html

Failed to return from a mission to railway marshalling yards at Maribor, Slovenia, Yugoslavia 7Nov44 (3KIA:4POW:3EVD). The plane was struck by flak just as it started the bomb run. No.1 engine received a direct hit knocking off the propeller. The engine was burning from the fore part with flames extending the length of the nacelle. Shortly after, the plane started to veer back and in towards the rear element which caused considerable confusion. Then, the pilot seemed to start a very slow turn to the right, losing considerable altitude. The fire intensity was growing. The crew began to bail out as the plane exploded and crashed Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia, Yugoslavia

This is B-17G 44-6442 which was assigned to 340BS within 97BG, 15AF on 15 Sep 1944 She went missing over Kalamaki in Greece 21 Jan 1945. Crew safe, although three wounded. Stig

Apparently, the added "TH" was their way of celebrating the assembly of the final (99th) Hawk 81A-2; it was not a reference to a unit number, since the AVG had only three squadrons - 1st "Adam & Eves," 2nd "Panda Bears" & 3rd "Hell's Angels." This aircraft was later re-numbered "92", assigned to the AVG's 3rd Pursuit Squadron with pilot Robert "Duke" Hedman. Pentecost's name doesn't appear on the AVG's roster; perhaps he worked for CAMCO (Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company), the concern tasked with assembling the birds - and doing subsequent major repair work.