WWII USAAF B-17 OLD BILL NAVIGATOR KIA SILVER STAR

View Item in Catalog
 
  Lot #125392  (Sale Order: 390 of 890) 
Time Remaining:
updating...
Opening Bid: USD 300.00 by YOU!

Placing your bid. please wait...

You've been outbid. Bid again.

Reserve Not Met
You Entered:
Your bid is between increments. How about one of these instead?

x Cancel
By clicking the Confirm Bid button, you are agreeing to the terms of sale.
Please do not show confirmation for remainder of session.
"Tax, Shipping & Handling and Internet Premium not included. See Auction Information for full details."

Payment Type:

Payment Type: Please Add / Select Card

Need help with bidding? Get Help


 
Description Terms of Sale
Item Description: Translate description
WWII USAAF B-17 OLD BILL NAVIGATOR KIA SILVER STAR
WWII USAAF 422nd Bombardment Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, B-17F Navigator Silver Star. Named to 2nd Lieutenant Douglas R. Venable Jr., O-728242, Navigator aboard the B-17F "Old Bill" Bomber, #42-29673. KIA when 20mm explosive rounds from a German FW-109 blew apart the nose of the bomber on May 15, 1943. (1) Named and Numbered Silver Star. Government engraving. Numbered 61044 on the edge. Original case and ribbon included. Also included are photocopies of the damaged bomber, the crew, and a typed story detailing the course of events on May 15, 1943. 2nd Lieutenant Douglas Randolph Venable Jr. served as the Navigator aboard the B-17F "Old Bill" Bomber, #42-29673. On May 15, 1943, bombers from the 422nd took off from Chelveston Airfield en route to Wilhelmshaven for a bombing mission. Before the formation could reach bombing altitude, they were attacked by 60 enemy fighters and 10 bombers. "Old Bill" was hit and had its oxygen system shot out and wounded its pilot, Captain William D. Whitson, in the leg. With no oxygen, Whitson was forced to break formation and move to a lower altitude to avoid suffocation. Surviving off portable oxygen tanks, the straggling "Old Bill" was swarmed by approximately 20 German fighters. One after another, the fighters made head-on runs of the damaged bomber, eventually blowing off the plexiglass nose with 20mm explosive rounds, killing 2nd Lieutenant Venable Jr. The majority of the crew was wounded with one killed and the plane heavily damaged. Regardless of the circumstances, the turret gunners returned fire, and shot down several attacking fighters. With down engines, a buckled wing, no hydraulics, a wounded crew and 200 mph winds blowing in from the nose, pilot Whitson managed to deadstick land the bomber back at Chelveston Airfield, and collapsed over the control column when stopped. At that point in the war, no other bomber from the 305th BG had sustained this much damage and survived. The crew of "Old Bill" were awarded eight Silver Stars, two DFC's and eight Purple Hearts, and became the most decorated crew in the entire bomb group. 2nd Lieutenant Venable Jr. is buried at the Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, GA.
Provenance: Lifetime Military Memorabilia & Arms Collection of Peter L. Knepton (1956-2023 Savannah, Georgia)
Condition: Very good. Light wear.
Estimate: 400-800

Unable to retrieve AutoCheck Summary Report, please try back later.


Summary Vehicle History Report below provided by AutoCheck.

AutoCheck® vehicle history reports deliver information on reported accidents, odometer rollback, lemon vehicles, branded titles and much more.

AutoCheck found record(s) for this   


VIN:

Style/Body:

Engine:


Get the full report to learn more:

Know the exact vehicle you want? One report may be all you need.  Single Report $24.99

Researching more than one vehicle? Run as many reports as you like for 21 days Unlimited Reports for 21 Days $44.99
This item is part of Wartime Collectible & Military Memorabilia Auction
 Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 9:00 AM  Eastern
 
Print This Page

WWII USAAF B-17 OLD BILL NAVIGATOR KIA SILVER STAR
WWII USAAF B-17 OLD BILL NAVIGATOR KIA SILVER STAR
Lot number: 125392
Seller: Centurion Auctions
Event: Wartime Collectible & Military Memorabilia Auction
Ends: Saturday, May 24 | 9:00 AM  Eastern

Message: 500 characters remaining

Cancel 

1.178.0.1774.cf7307d.15.171