B-17G-30-DL
'Sleepy Time Gal', 42-38211
B-17G-30-DL
'Sleepy Time Gal', 42-38211
Heinz Knoke's victim on March 8, 1944
Sgt Charles R. Batdorf (Right waist gunner) at Moses Lake, WA.
He was shot down with "Sleepy Time Gal" victim of Lt Heinz Knoke (5./JG11) on March 8, 1944
and became a prisoner of war.
[Photo courtesy from Alan Foreman]
Extacts from messages from: ForemanA@MLHS.ORG
To: fruffino@club-internet.fr
Sent: during August, 2003
Subject: B-17: "Sleepy Time Gal"
Franck,
My uncle [Sgt Charles R. Batdorf] served as a B-17 crewman (Right waist gunner, #42-38211, Sleepy Time Gal,
shot down March 8, 1944). He was apparently one of Hauptmann Knoke's victories.
Am writing an article on the crew last mission...
...Have Interviewed 4 of the 5 surviving members of Sleepy Time Gal and have obtained mission report of
452nd Bomb Group from 8 March 1944 mission.An interesting note, the ball turret gunner, William J. Valigura, met Knoke on the day he was shot down.
Apparently Knoke went to Valigura's cell at the Wunstorf air base and introduced himself as the pilot that
shot down Valigura's B-17 (Knoke even provided the tail number to Valigura to legitimize the claim).
Valigura didn't know the pilot's name until just recently when he found your website and placed the face
in his memory to the face and name in the photos on your website.
I wrote a short article on this encounter entitled "The Last Piece of the Puzzle."
Mr. Valigua has developed an interest in Knoke and has done a bit of research recently...I would like to assist you in the development of the Sleepy Time Gal page in any way I can.
It would be a great tribute to the crew...
"Chuck" Charles R. Batdorf back at his Right Waist Gunner place in June 2001.
The B-17G was "Yankee Lady".
[Photo Alan Foreman]
Alan Foreman and his Uncle "Chuck" Charles R. Batdorf in flight in the B-17G "Yankee Lady", June 2001.
[Photo Alan Foreman]
Alan Foreman and his Uncle "Chuck" Charles R. Batdorf in front of the B-17G "Yankee Lady", June 2001.
[Photo Alan Foreman]
clic on photo to enlarge it.
- - - Special thanks to Alan Foreman (nephew of Sgt Charles R. Batdorf) for his help - - -
serial number
plane type or name
squadron
code
reason
mission lost on
pilot / crew
42-38211
B-17G-30-DL
"Sleepy Time Gal"
452 BG
731 BS
Heinz Knoke Bf 109 &
fighters
Berlin.
Crash Location
Nienburg
25 km North/West of Wunstorf 415 / I112nd Lt. Theodore J. MacDonald P POW,
2nd Lt. John T. Godsey CP KIA,
2nd Lt. Jacob Moskowitz N POW,
2nd Lt. Anton L. Harris B KIA,
T/Sgt Mearl I. Cline TTG POW,
T/Sgt Wilburn C. Rowden R POW,
Sgt Charles R. Batdorf RWG POW,
Sgt Wendell E. Dowell LWG POW,
Sgt William J. Valigura, Jr. BTG POW,
Sgt Robert L. Allen TG POW,
MACR 3193
