Mischief Maker B-17F-BO 75 42-229914

There is a black and white picture in the aircrew transit lounge of Gander International Airport of this aircraft on ferry or transiting through Gander, Newfoundland for the ETO.

It is one of a group of pictures showing approximately 110 B-17s and B-24s packed on the main hardstand waiting to transit out.

I am curious as to the history of this aircraft. Who were the crew? Where it went? What BG it was assigned to and what BS it was a part of. As well, I have noticed and read a history of Mischief Maker II which is set out elsewhere in this forum. Information would be appreciated.

 

Mischief Maker B-17F at Gander International

Robert,
The picture you saw may belong to my dad, who in 1943 was Capt V.L. Iverson, pilot of a B-17F that was transitioning to the European theatre of operations. His aircraft was called Mischief Maker. His flight records show that he flew through Goose Bay (first Dow Fld and then Meeks Fld) during 23-26April1943, on his way to Prestwick, England. His unit was 339th Bomb Sqdn, 96th Bomb Group, stationed at Snetterton Heath. After the initial aircraft of this name was damaged beyond repair during a mission in Europe (I'm not sure which mission), he named his replacement aircraft Mischief Maker II. He completed his remaining missions (minus 1) in this aircraft before giving it over to a new crew, I believe piloted by a 1Lt Paul Herring. Lt Herring was shot down in Feb44 in B-17F 42-301412 QJ-B, consistent with my dad's recollection of what happened to his plane (but I don't have independent confirmation of aircraft tail numbers). My dads last combat flight in the MMII aircraft was 21Jan44, which his flight records labels as a Crossbow mission. This was the code name for V-weapon raids. From 8th Air Force records I believe this was a mission against Bois Coquerie, in France, a V-weapon launch site. He was lead crew for the Group on this flight (as well as 14 others). His final B-17 combat mission was 3Mar44 to Berlin (also lead for Group) but this time flying a B-17G (I don't know the name or tail number). After 25 missions his crew was sent home but he was retained and assigned to USAFE to assist with preparation for D-Day and beyond (he tried to move to B-29's before this assignment but wasn't allowed). I believe he participated in two other combat missions that aren't on his 25 mission summary--at least his flight records show a combat mission on 8-17-43 (perhaps Schweinfurt) and 9-24-43 (perhaps Manheim). My mom always said he flew 27 missions rather than 25. My father left the service in Sep 45 as Lt Col. He was qualified to fly B-17F and G, P-51, P-38, AT-6, UC-45F, UC-78, L-4B (?) and perhaps others. He was awarded an Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, DFC, and Bronze Star. He could have received a Purple Heart for a wound from a piece of shrapnel from flak that grazed his cheek, but he just put iodine on the wound and never reported the injury. He and my mom settled in LA for 4 yrs and then moved to Eugene, Oregon to start his own paint factory business. For the first three years they survived on an income of $98/month but stuck at it, retiring from paint manufacturing in 1969. He received Jesus Christ as his redeemer in 1950 at Church of the Open Door in LA, cared for his family, served his community and the down-and-out at Eugene Mission, and passed away into the embrace of his Savior in 1999. He is buried at the Veterans Cemetery outside Portland, OR.

If you can get a copy of the photo from Gander, I'd love to have a copy as well. Thanks for the tip. The pieces seem to fit.

Regards,
Derek

 

Thanks for this Derek, i will try and email the original poster and inform him of the post that you have left ...

Jim ...

 

Mischief Maker II

My dad was the crew chief on the Mischief Maker II. I don't know about the original MM. He separated from the Army Air Corps at the end of the ETO as a Master Sergeant. We (my brother) have several pictures of MM II and the ground crew. There may be some of the air crew as well, but I haven't seen the pictures for some time. If there is an interest, I'll contact my brother. I would be interested in any pictures of the original MM or MM II, as well. Thanks.

 

Hello Larry,

If you could upload the pictures of Mischief Maker II that would be great. Thanks for adding the info ...

Jim

 

Some pictures of Vern Iverson, pilot of Mischief Maker

Here are 4 assorted pictures in pdf file that relate to Vern Iverson. The ULHC picture is from one of his assignments in the US I believe (not sure where). The LLHC is a picture of my mom, Margaret Roberts Iverson, on the steps of her parents home in Walla Walla, WA. The URHC picture is from the European Theater, under a B-17 engine, with crew in the background I believe. My dad Vern is the one facing the camera with dark glasses. I'm not sure who the other men in this picture are, or the circumstances surrounding the photo, but think it may have been a publicity photo. The picture in the LRHC is a picture of my dad and mom, Vern and Margaret, taken a few years before he passed away. He developed a hobby of silver-smithing in his retirement and made the turquoise bolo that he is wearing.

Regards,
Derek

 

Thank You for the upload Derek, it is alawys good when you can put faces and names to history ... :thumb:

 

Thanks for sharing Derek, as Jim says it is nice to put faces to ww2 stories. :thumb:

 

More info on Mischief Maker II requested

OldMan, I would very much like to have you post copies of your photos and any stories that you have about Mischief Maker II. At some point I'll post a copy of my Dad's flight records on this forum, which will give the missions for MM I and MM II. Best Regards.

 

Attempted upload of photos

Sorry for the delay. I attempted to upload photos of MMII combat and ground crews, but received and out-of-space message. I don't know if this board is still active, but I hope so. Let me know what I need to do to upload photos. Thanks.

 

Hi,

If you Click Here you can see a tutorial on how to add a picture here on war44 ... If you need more help then please just ask ... :thumb:

Looking forward to seeing the pictures ...

 

My grandfather was the tailgunner on the Mischief Maker and the stories he told us are consistent with DerekIvy's account. I found this site while searxhimg the web for anything about his plane that I could share with my son. I believe I have pictures of him and the MM if anyone might be interested.

 

Hello GForce, please do add the images and stories if possible. :thumb:

 

Mischief Maker II photos

Finally, time to attach photos. The members of the Combat Crew and Ground Crew are as follows:

Combat Crew: Capt Iverson, Capt Arpaice, Capt Davisson, Lt Gawley, T/Sgt Walker, T/Sgt Dobson, S/Sgt Brenna, S/Sgt Dolan, S/Sgt Olson, S/Sgt Driscoll

Ground Crew: M/Sgt Shaw, Sgt Donald, Sgt Smith, Cpl Lohman, Cpl Rejkowski

The photos are from the ceremony of the 25th successful mission for the Iverson crew.

 

Thanks for Crew and Crew Chief pictures

Thanks for uploading the pictures related to Mischief Maker, identifying the people in them, and identifying the occasion. I've had the picture of my Dad Vern shaking hands in front of his airplane for some time but never knew what it related to. Some of the crew provided cassette tape greetings for my dad and mom's 50th anniversary, but I'm not sure who at this point. I'll have to try to locate the tape and find out the names.
DerekIvy

 

Correction to names of Mischief Maker crew

A slight correction--the bombardier's name at the time of the 25th mission was Capt Arpaia (rather than Arpaice). Vern's initial bombardier was Lt. Galle but he was transferred sometime before June 1943 and Galle's new crew was shot down and he ended his tour as a POW. I think Lt. Gawley was the Co-pilot and Capt. Davisson was the Navigator. It would be nice to know the positions of all the crew, if anyone knows.

 

Vern Iverson flight record

I've uploaded Vern Iverson's flight record, as best I can reconstruct from his flight records and Snetterton Heath book primarily, on americanairmuseum.com under Mischief Maker II and Vern Iverson. I'll try to do so here as well.
Derek Iverson

 

Wonderful to read your note. My family is studying up on the evaders and how they were cared for in Belgium. Our relative was a photographer who boarded the Mischief Maker II for that last flight.

 

Thanks Otto for the work. I appreciate getting to read the stories. In Belgium last month, we met men who remembered seeing the (empty) Mischief Maker II coast to its landing in March of 1944 (all the airmen parachuted safely to ground).