B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-3268 / Messie Bessie aka Carol Jane aka BOOTS II

Delivered Denver 18/4/43; Dow Fd 1/6/43; Assigned 534BS/381BG Ridgewell MESSIE BESSIE 3/6/43; re-named CAROL JANE; {1+m} transferred 413BS/96BG [MZ-Z] Snetterton 6/7/43; re-named BOOTS II; crashed on take off for Bordeaux 5/1/44 with Jim Marshall, Co-pilot: Dick Kostral, Navigator: Forrest Holland, Bombardier: John McCain, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Alf McKay, Radio Operator: Theo Romanini, Ball turret gunner: Wes Schmidt, Waist gunner: Otto Scheidegger, Waist gunner: John Conlin,Tail gunner: Kelsel Close {died next day} (10 Killed in Action); sudden loss of power and crashed a mile SW of base at Low Shrub Farm, Larling, Nfk., Salvaged.