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Quelle:
www.fold3.com
Produktionsblock:
B-17G-60-BO: 42-102744 bis 42-102978
Hersteller:
Boeing
- Bomber-Gruppe:
- 97th Bomb Group
- Bomber-Staffel:
- 342nd Bomb Squadron
MACR: 6688 / KSU/ME/KU: 1651
Geschichte der
B-17 42-102918 / Idiot’s Delight
Delivered Cheyenne 17/4/44; Hunter 29/4/44; Grenier 14/5/44; Assigned 342BS/97BG Amendola 26/5/44; first 15AF aircraft to land in Russia on shuttle mission after bombing Debrecen marshalling yards 2/6/44; Missing in Action Munich 19/7/44 with 1Lt Marion W Williams, 2lt Robert E Frost, 2lt Albert Lee Thomas, 2Lt Morris Brownstein, T/Sgt Angelo J Cirigliano, Sgt Kenneth H Smith, Sgt Frank J Compton, Sgt Charles Androski, S/Sgt Walter S Bond, Sgt Charles W Ranson, Sgt Herbert R Bauer; flak hit caused fire in bomb bay, aircraft went into a spin and tail broke off, crashed Ascheim; Missing Air Crew Report 6688; IDIOT’S DELIGHT.
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 3. Mai 2020
B-17 42-102918 / Idiot’s Delight Details
Aussage von Augenzeugen
Wir hatten das Ziel überflogen und unsere Bomben abgeworfen, als ich ein Flugzeug mit brennendem Triebwerk Nr. 2 sah. Die Flammen erstreckten sich über die gesamte Länge des Rumpfes und verdunkelten das Flugzeug zeitweise fast vollständig aus meiner Sicht.
Das brennenden Flugzeug folgte in Formation und schalteten das Ziel unter Beibehaltung der Flughöhe an Ort und Stelle ab. Als die Drehung vollendet war, verließ das brennende Flugzeug die Formation, und ich beobachtete wie (5) fünf Schirme aus dem Flugzeug kamen und alle geöffnet wurden. Nachdem die Männer das Flugzeug verlassen hatten, löste sich das Heck vom Flugzeug, und das Feuer erlosch, als das Flugzeug gerade herunterstürzte.
T/Sgt. William J. Farrell
Wir hatten gerade unsere Bomben abgeworfen und die Bombenschachttüren geschlossen, als ich sah, wie das Flugzeug Nr. 918 in D-Boxformation von der Flak im Triebwerk Nr. 2 getroffen wurde. Es begann zu brennen, aber das Flugzeug blieb in der Formation, bis wir unsere Abzweigung vom Ziel und aus dem Flakbereich heraus beendet hatten. Ich sah (7) sieben Fallschirme aus dem Flugzeug herauskommen, und sie öffneten sich alle. Schließlich brach das Heck des Flugzeugs an der Rumpfgeschützposition ab, und das Flugzeug stürzte ab. Das war das letzte, was ich von dem Flugzeug sehen konnte.
S/Sgt. Thomas B. Summers
Heckschütze
Wenn ich sage, dass Lt. Williams und Frost keine Chance hatten, zu entkommen, dann meine ich, dass sie auf dem Pilotensitz saßen und zweifellos in die Instrumententafel geschleudert wurden, wobei sie entweder tödlich verletzt oder bewusstlos wurden.
S/Sgt. Kenneth H. Smith
B-17 42-102918 / Idiot’s Delight Crew
| Position | Rang | Name | Status | Bemerkung |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Marion W. Williams | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Robert E. Frost | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Albert Lee Thomas | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Morris Brownstein | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Kenneth H. Smith | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Angelo J. Cirigliano | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Walter S. Bond | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Charles Androski | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Frank J. Compton | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Charles W. Ranson | KIA | - |
| --- | SGT | Herbert R. Bauer | KIA | Asst. RO |
17. Mai 2021 access_time 22:36
Sgt Charles Androski was my father
After the war and he was released he went home to his parents and met my mother
They were married in 1946, went on to have 4 children and he became an operating engineer working with cranes . He died in august of 1973 of a massive heart attack at the age of 54
His eldest a son, John served in Vietnam as a cobra gunship pilot and later flew A10s and ultimately F16s in the first gulf war retiring as a Lt. Col.
PROUD OF OUR DAD❤️!!!
18. Mai 2021 access_time 8:13
Thank you for sharing!
03. Juni 2021 access_time 1:20
Marion Williams was my great uncle. I’ve always wondered what happened to those he flew with. I’m so happy to see some of his crew members went on to live happy lives. Thank you for sharing!
08. April 2024 access_time 18:01
Sgt Kenneth H Smith was my grandfather. He was captured and held in Stalag Luft IV in Poland until being marched in The March up the Oder River and into and across Germany; he ultimately was liberated near Belgium. He credited his ability to play guitar and a guitar he got from the Red Cross to his survival of the POW camp and the friends he made there. Rather than considering himself lucky, he carried great guilt for having survived when so many did not. He returned home though, married my Grandmother in 1946 – to whom he was married for 55 years until his death of mesothelioma in 2001 at age 77. They raised four children – one of whom himself was career Army – and had nine grandchildren and many great grandchildren. After the war, he worked as a bookkeeper and in medical sales, before becoming a district court clerk from which he retired. He continued to enjoy hunting and fishing, pastimes from his youth that first taught him the skills to man the top turret gun, and played guitar part time in several bands throughout his life.
09. April 2024 access_time 20:33
Tre Fischer, thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story and for his service.
08. April 2024 access_time 16:17
Sgt Kenneth H Smith was my grandfather. He was captured and held in Stalag Luft IV in Poland until being marched in The March up the Oder River and into and across Germany; he ultimately was liberated near Belgium. He credited his ability to play guitar and a guitar he got from the Red Cross to his survival of the POW camp and the friends he made there. Rather than considering himself lucky, he carried great guilt for having survived when so many did not. He returned home though, married my Grandmother in 1946 – to whom he was married for 55 years until his death of mesothelioma in 2001 at age 77. They raised four children – one of whom himself was career Army – and had nine grandchildren and many great grandchildren. After the war, he worked as a bookkeeper and in medical sales, before becoming a district court clerk from which he retired. He continued to enjoy hunting and fishing, pastimes from his youth that first taught him the skills to man the top turret gun, and played guitar part time in several bands throughout his life.