Produktionsblock:
B-17F-15-BO: 41-24490 bis 41-24503
Hersteller:
Boeing
- Bomber-Gruppe:
- 91st Bomb Group
- Bomber-Staffel:
- 324th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: DF-E
MACR: 16162
Geschichte der
B-17 41-24503 / Pandora’s Box
B-17F 41-24503 ‘Pandora’s Box’ assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-E] Bangor 30-August-42; Bassingbourn 29-September-42; Missing in Action 23-Nov-42 while flying as Group Lead on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St Nazaire, France. Enemy aircraft shot out #3, and aircraft dropped back and crashed into the sea 30 miles northwest of St. Nazaire. 11KIA MACR 16162
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 19. September 2020
B-17 41-24503 / Pandora’s Box Details
Zehn (10) B-17 der 324 Bomb Sq, 91. Bomb Gp wurden von zwölf (12) FW 190 über der Küste getroffen. Vier (4) weitere FW 190 schlossen sich kurz vor dem IP dem Angriff an. Fünf (5) feindliche Flugzeuge wurden zerstört und eines (1) beschädigt.
Dieses B-17 (503) drehte sich dem Meer zu und wurde von drei (3) weiteren B-17 verfolgt. Lt. Gorman, Pilot eines der drei Flugzeuge, die auf #503 folgten, folgte #503 bis auf 2000 Fuß. Major Smelser, Kommandopilot dieses Bomberfluges, winkte die anderen Flugzeuge weiter. Am Heck von #503 hing eine Rettungsinsel. Lt. Gorman gab an, dass #503 30 Meilen nordwestlich von St. Nazaire, Frankreich, im Meer landete oder auf der Halbinsel Brest notlandete. Diese B-17 mit einem oder mehreren brennenden Motoren erreichte nie das Ziel.
Quelle: MACR 16162
B-17 41-24503 / Pandora’s Box Crew
| Position | Rang | Name | Status | Bemerkung |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | MAJ | Harold C. Smelser | KIA | - |
| CP | CPT | Duane L. Jones | KIA | - |
| NAV | 1LT | John S. Hemingway | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Phillip K. Baxter | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Alvy G. Masters | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Louis E Emerson | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | Fidel Hernandez | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Doyt L. Watson | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | John L. Boomer | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Joseph Medved | KIA | - |
| OBS | CPT | George C. Wahl, Jr. | KIA | - |
04. Juni 2020 access_time 18:37
I have copies of the report “Missing Air Crew” which lists all the crew member on this aircraft. It mentions that the 10 aircraft from the 324th Bomb Squadron on that mission were attacked by 12 FW-190 fighters and then an additional 4 FW-190 fighters joined in. Pandora’s Box was hit in engine 3 dropped out of formation & was last observed with a lift raft dragging behind the aircraft approximately 30 miles NW of Brest France.
I have dailies of all their missions and this was their 8th mission.
If anyone has more information about this crew, ground crew or aircraft please contact me.
Thanks for all the work on this website.
All these servicemen are honored at the U S cemetery in Cambridge & the 324th BS was stationed there at Bassenbourne airfield.
21. September 2020 access_time 21:54
Hi Bob, I’m working on this particular B-17 “Pandora’s Box” right now. I’m in contact with the pilot’s son, Larry Smelser (son of Harold C. Smelser). I have a part of information but I would be interested by dailies of their missions and any other information. I have some photos of some crew members. I am French. Can you please contact me by email ? Thank a lot.
26. September 2020 access_time 9:33
Hello Benoit,
I sent an email to Bob. But it failed to deliver. It seems, that Bob’s email-address is wrong.
I am sorry.
I hope he returns on day to this site and read your comment.
Cheers
Jing
09. März 2023 access_time 20:27
Hello Benoit! I am working on behalf of the family of Fidel Hernandez. I was hoping you would be willing to share any pictures you had of the crew and or aircraft, specifically Fidel. I appreciate your help! Please feel free to email me anything you can share to nate@fegraphics.com . Thank you in advance! I also lost my great uncle in a B-17 KIA July 26th 1943, Richard Allee, Left Waist Gunner, so I also know how important any little bit of information can be to a family. Thank you,
Nate
28. September 2020 access_time 23:54
I made contact with Benoit to help with information regarding the last mission of Pandora’s Box. He is writing a very nice article for the October newsletter of Association Bretonne du Souvenir Aérien (ABSA)
29. September 2020 access_time 0:45
I made contact with Benoit to help with information regarding the last mission of Pandora’s Box. He is writing a very nicEarticle for the October newsletter of Association Bretonne du Souvenir Aérien (ABSA)
23. Oktober 2020 access_time 20:57
My uncle was SSGT Doyt Lee Watson. He was the waist gunner aboard Pandora’s Box. We do not have a lot about his time in England. We do have letters written during his training but nothing from his time overseas. Does anyone have any personal references from their loved ones that mentioned Doyt?
12. Oktober 2022 access_time 0:14
Benoit met my wife Gwen & I on Sept 14, 2022 honor my Uncle TSgt Alvy G Masters who was listed as MIA/ KIA on last mission of Pandora’s Box to bomb the submarine pen at St. Nazaire. Benoit is current presidentAssociation Bretonne du Souvenir Aérien (ABSA) and Daniels Dahiot, founder of ABSA 39-45 arranged with the deputy mayor of St. Nazaire to lay a wreath near the WWII memorial plaque near the “”Sammy” monument from WWI.
Thank you ABSA 39-45
20. Oktober 2024 access_time 1:41
Some art on Reddit of the B-17 and the nose art of PANDORA’S BOX: https://www.reddit.com/r/WWIIplanes/comments/1g7lu3d/on_23_november_1942_maj_harold_smelsers_b17f15bo/
20. Oktober 2024 access_time 15:23
According to MACR 16162 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91173005?objectPage=2) the pilot was actually Capt George C Wahl, while Maj Smelser was a command pilot and not actually flying. So there were eleven airmen onboard.