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Quelle:
www.fold3.com
Produktionsblock:
B-17G-35-VE: 42-97836 bis 42-97935
Hersteller:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomber-Staffel:
- 324th Bomb Squadron
- 600th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: DF-F, N8-R
Einsätze: 50+
Geschichte der
B-17 42-97880 / Little Miss Mischief
Delivered Tulsa 23/3/44; 88BG Hunter 18/5/44; Dow Fd 29/5/44; Assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-F] Bassingbourn 15/6/44; 50+m lost engine en route Fassberg A/fd 4/4/45 with Edgar Moyer, on return crash landed base when u/c collapsed; repaired & transferred 600BS/398BG [N8-R] Nuthampstead; mission to French bridges 8/7/44 with Curtis Lovelace, Co-pilot: Bob Hart, Navigator: Bob Uhl, Bombardier: Alton Andrews, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Rees, Radio Operator: Cliff Weatherwax, Ball turret gunner: Gerard Antaillia, Waist gunner: Phil Fritech,Tail gunner: Sam Miller (9 Returned to Duty); forced to bail out over Essex on return and crash landed Chelsworth, Suffolk; repaired and transferred 306BG 5/45. LITTLE MISS MISCHIEF.
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 6. Juni 2021
B-17 42-97880 / Little Miss Mischief Details
“Little Miss Mischief” kehrte am 15. Oktober 1944 von Köln zurück. Sie war eine von den B-17-Maschinen, die den zweiten von drei Tagesangriffen auf diese Stadt durchführte. Ihr Rumpf war durchschlagen und ihr Kugelturm am Flugzeugbauch so zerfetzt, dass es unbegreiflich schien, wie der Schütze überleben konnte.
Paul McDowell aus Bebraska war der zweite Pilot der “Little Miss Mischief”. Soweit es ihn betraf, war sie ihm viel zu langsam. Sie litt unter einem Schaden an einem Trägerflächenholm, herrührend von einem vergangenen Einsatz. Ein Satz neuer Motoren brachte sie jedoch wieder annähernd zum alten Gefechtswert.
McDowell schaute am 15. Oktober durch seine dicke Windschutzscheibe, wieder einen längeren Einsatz fliegend, als er ein Ruderpedal leer trat. Ebenso fiel die Bordsprechanlage aus, jedoch wussen weder McDowell noch sein Copilot, Herman Balaban, was passiert war. Sergeant James Hobbs, der Bordmechaniker, verließ seinen Gefechtsstand im oberen Turm und drückte sich durch den Bombenschacht vorbei am Funkraum in den hinteren Teil der Maschine. Eine Weile später kehrte er zurück mit starren Augen. McDowell vernahm etwas wie: “Großes Loch da” Als er nach hinten ging um nachzuschauen, stellte er fest, dass das Loch groß genug war, ein Kalb hin durchzuschieben. Der Bombenschütze ging nach hinten, um den Schaden näher zu untersuchen und kam, wegen Sauerstoffmangel, erregt zurück. Er behaarte mit heftigen Worten darauf, dass alle sofort abspringen müssten. Nach überstülpen der Sauerstoffmaske überlegte rasch neue Möglichkeiten.
Der MG-Schütze der rechten Rumpfseite, Glenn Staughter, hatte einen Schlag unter seinen Füßen gespürt. Er war dabei von seiner Waffe weggefegt worden und fand sich liegend wieder. Hierbei schaute er auf die Erde tief unter der Maschine durch eine Anzahl von großen, kleinen und mittleren Löchern rings um ihn herum. Unfähig zu glauben, dass er immer noch als Ganzes vorhanden war, beobachtete er verwirrt, wie Blut aus seinem schweren Stiefel rann. Die Masse seiner Ferse des linken Fußes war hin und die übrige Besatzung nahm sich bald seiner an.
Alle Gedanken über den Bombeneinsatz und Köln waren verflogen, McDowell kämpfte mit seiner kopflastigen Maschine. Im zerfetzten Kugelturm unter dem Bauch des Flugzeugs war der Schütze Ed Abdo eingekeilt. Irgendjemand schob ihm ein Laken durch ein Loch, um ihn vor den eisigen Luftstrom zu schützen.
McDowell befand sich in einer Höhe von 8.200 m und musste sich rasch nach unten begeben. Er sandte seinen Co-Piloten zurück, um einige auseinandergetrennte Steuerkabel unter Kontrolle zu bringen. Dieser ergriff jedoch ein falsches Kabel und “Little Miss Mischief” wurde noch kopflastiger. McDowell holte Balaban zurück und gab ihm den Auftrag, den Steuerknüppel selbst zu bedienen. Er machte sich auf den Weg durch den vorderen Teil der Maschine, den Funkerraum und den Bombenschacht. Der Funker sollte Zeichen vom Piloten zum Co-Piloten weiterreichen, die Aussage darüber zu geben hatte, ob Maßnahmen, die im hinteren Teil vorgenommen wurden, zum guten oder schlechten veränderte. McDowell ergriff schließlich das richtige Kabel und so trimmten sie das Flugzeug in eine stabile Fluglage bei 205 km/h.
Der schwere Druck auf dem Steuerknüppel ließ nach und die Situation war gemeistert; McDowell hatte jedoch immer noch Probleme. Das große Loch im hinteren Teil war natürlich “Nummer Eins” und der eingeklemmte Ed Abdo ließ nur eine Landung, und zwar eine perfekte, zu. Er war ehr nervös als aufgekratzt. Zurück auf seinem Sitz, in den Himmel um ihn herum schauend, war er sich darüber im klaren, dass er bei einem Auseinanderbrechen der Fortress die Möglichkeit hätte abzuspringen, da er bereits einen Fallschirm auf dem Rücken trug – aber falls sie bei der Landung zerbrechen sollte – Feuer war immer seine größte Furcht.
Als sie Bassingbourn erreichten, arbeitete der Bordmechaniker hart daran, die Strippen zum Trimmen und die Steuerkabel im Rumpf zu bedienen. Der Schütze im Kugelturm, der Morphium eingenommen hatte, war halb erfroren, aber lebte noch. Seine Rolle kostete ihn später nur einen kleinen Zeh.
McDowell bekam sie herunter und die “Little Miss Mischief” rollte zum Hangar. Für eine Weile schaute ihre Zukunft düster aus, jedoch Colonel Frank Kamykowski des 444. Versorgungs-Deports hielt nichts davon, Flugzeuge zu verschwenden. Er hatte noch ein restliches Hinterteil einer alten oliv-farbenen B-17 (42-31405 / Wallaroo Mk II) und entschied sich, beides zusammenzuflicken. Nach Abschluss der Reparaturarbeiten enthielt “Little Miss Mischief” Teile von 13 verschiedenen Flugzeugen. Während ihr Vorderteil in der Masse noch aus einer bei den Vega-Werken gebauten B-17G mit der Ser.Nr: 42-97880 bestand, war ihr Hinterteil bei den Boeing-Werken in Seattle hergestellt. “Little Miss Mischief” flog noch weitere 14 oder 15 Einsätze, die sie insgesamt auf 50 Einsätze brachte, bevor sie in Bassingbourn notlanden musste.
Weitere Fotos der 42-97880 / Little Miss Mischief
16. August 2020 access_time 22:43
have in front of me plans for making this amazing aircraft . revell have a model kit of her right down to the motif will be making her during winter nights didnt relise she was a actual flyer a small bit of history
07. Februar 2021 access_time 5:28
My brother 1st Lt Ralph Barrett was a bombardier on the Little Miss Mischief. Perhaps he was before or after this particular story. Any information about my brother Ralph would be appreciated,
10. Februar 2024 access_time 20:35
My wife, Cindy Moyer Spivey, her dad was the pilot of the Mischief in 1945. Maybe the last 10 or so missions? Before it belly landed. I am not sure if your brother flew with him or with the 1944 crew. I audio recorded w a cassette tape player her dad reflections in the 1990s, but sadly we only taped 90 minutes up until he flew to Greenland in route to Bassingborne. It was incredible how many different USA training centers he went to and the US Air Army Air Force washing out a large % of each class. Edgar Moyer also crash landed in France behind his own lines (landed in a field and the white flowers / pollen came up that his wind screen was completely white and he thought he had died and now in Heaven) – the crew had a few days in Paris before flying back, I assume in the Mischief. He brought back a large German radio to England but not sure if he traded or purchased in Paris. I had a company transfer the audio onto a CD, but the quality is still very poor. He was 17 when he enlisted and lied about his age. He passed in 2013 I think and the US Air Force has a bugle player attend the burial and play taps. Not a dry eye at the site. They said they had tried to get a fly over but no planes available.
02. September 2024 access_time 17:34
Hello. I am Don L Fritsch. Grandson to Leon Fritsch. I am interested in finding any information regarding my grandfather as I am able to. I’m told he piloted little miss mischief though I am unsure as to which years. When I was little he didn’t speak of the war much and I didn’t feel it was respectful or appropriate to probe. It was clear he just couldn’t especially after his stroke. I’m told he may have said, “the women and children…”.
I am certain of one thing, they were great men! Men that walked with humility, honor, confidence in their beliefs. Men that were worth listening to. Men that you never said no to when they asked for a hand. Men that aren’t made anymore. I’d greatly appreciate another day with him. May God bless you all.
19. Februar 2024 access_time 1:17
My childhood best friend was Dusty McDowell, the grandson of Paul McDowell. I remember his father telling stories of the aircraft and what they went through. They had original copy’s of most of these pictures here. His grandpa already passed by the time we met, but I’ll never forget the pride he and his father had.
29. April 2024 access_time 17:54
My Dad was Herman Balaban, copilot on the Cologne mission, flying with Paul McDowell. My dad didn’t talk about the war, and what I’ve learned has been through research and other people’s recollections. I’d love to hear from anyone still out there who knows about Bassingbourn and Little Miss Mischief and that crew. Thank in advance. Rick Balaban
20. November 2024 access_time 16:30
Here is a much better translation of the mission summary above:
Here’s the translation:
“Little Miss Mischief” returned from Cologne on October 15, 1944. She was one of the B-17 bombers that carried out the second of three daytime raids on the city. Her fuselage was riddled with holes, and her ball turret under the belly was so mangled that it seemed impossible the gunner had survived.
Paul McDowell from Nebraska was the co-pilot of “Little Miss Mischief.” As far as he was concerned, the plane was far too slow for his liking. She had sustained damage to a wing spar in a previous mission. However, a set of new engines had restored most of her combat readiness.
On October 15, during another lengthy mission, McDowell was peering through his thick windshield when he suddenly found one of the rudder pedals unresponsive. At the same time, the intercom system failed. Neither McDowell nor his co-pilot, Herman Balaban, knew what had happened.
Sergeant James Hobbs, the flight engineer, left his position in the top turret and squeezed his way past the bomb bay and the radio room to inspect the rear of the plane. A while later, he returned with a stunned expression. McDowell heard something like, “Big hole back there.” When McDowell went to see for himself, he found a hole so large that you could have pushed a calf through it.
The bombardier went back to examine the damage more closely but returned in a panic, short of oxygen. He insisted, in heated words, that everyone needed to bail out immediately. After pulling on an oxygen mask, McDowell quickly reconsidered their options.
The right waist gunner, Glenn Staughter, had felt a blow beneath his feet. He was swept away from his gun and found himself lying on the floor. Looking down through the many large, small, and medium-sized holes around him, he saw the ground far below the aircraft. Unable to believe he was still in one piece, he noticed blood streaming from his heavy boot. Most of the heel of his left foot was gone, and the rest of the crew quickly tended to him.
All thoughts of the bombing mission and Cologne were abandoned as McDowell struggled to control the nose-heavy plane. In the mangled ball turret under the plane’s belly, gunner Ed Abdo was trapped. Someone passed a sheet through a hole to shield him from the icy wind.
At 8,200 meters (about 27,000 feet), McDowell had to descend quickly. He sent his co-pilot to the back of the plane to handle some severed control cables. However, Balaban accidentally grabbed the wrong cable, making “Little Miss Mischief” even more nose-heavy. McDowell called Balaban back and instructed him to man the control stick while McDowell made his way to the rear of the plane.
In the radio room, the radio operator relayed signals between McDowell and Balaban to report whether the adjustments being made at the rear were improving or worsening the situation. Eventually, McDowell found the correct cable and managed to stabilize the aircraft at a cruising speed of 205 km/h (about 127 mph).
The heavy pressure on the control stick eased, and the immediate crisis was over, but McDowell still faced challenges. The massive hole in the rear was the most pressing issue, and the trapped gunner, Ed Abdo, meant the plane would need a flawless landing. McDowell felt more nervous than exhilarated. Back in his seat, staring at the skies around him, he realized that if the Fortress broke apart in mid-air, he could bail out with his parachute. But if it broke apart during landing—fire was his greatest fear.
When they reached their base at Bassingbourn, the flight engineer worked tirelessly to handle the trim and control cables in the fuselage. The ball turret gunner, who had been given morphine, was half-frozen but alive. He later lost only a small toe from his ordeal.
Let me know if you’d like any part clarified further!