| Allgemein | |
|---|---|
| Hersteller: | Douglas |
| Produktionsblock: | , B-17G-35-DL: 42-106984 bis 42-107233 |
| Einsatzgeschichte | |
|---|---|
| Bomber-Gruppe: | , 379th Bomb Group |
| Bomber-Staffel: | , 525th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | WA-O |
| MACR | 6737 |
| Schicksal: |
, Abschuss durch Flak (25 Juni 1944) |
Geschichte der
B-17 42-107068 / Powerful Katrinka
Delivered Tulsa 10/2/44; Gr Island 15/2/44; Grenier 5/3/44; Assigned 525BS/379BG [WA-O] Kimbolton 11/4/44; Missing in Action Toulouse 25/6/44 with Tom Butcher, Co-pilot: Joe Wells, Navigator: Franklin Vita, Bombardier: Dick Daniels, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Reid, Radio Operator: Rollin Bonham, Ball turret gunner: Ben Burseth, Waist gunner: Rudi Supper,Tail gunner: Ralph Crawford (9INT); flak damage, crashed Espinal-Mezquiriz, Navarra, Spain; Missing Air Crew Report 6737. POWERFUL KATRINKA.
Informationen können Korrekturen und Ergänzungen auf Grundlage von Jings Recherchen enthalten.
B-17 42-107068 / Powerful Katrinka Details
Foto zeigt die Besatzung von John G. Hamlin.
Aussage aus dem MACR 6737
Flugzeug 42-107068 wurde zuletzt beim Verlassen der Formation in der Nähe des Ziels, Toulouse, Frankreich, gesehen. Vermutlich wurde das Flugzeug von der Flak getroffen. Der Co-Pilot dieses Flugzeugs rief über Funk, dass sie gezwungen sind das Flugzeug zu verlassen. Offensichtlich war das Flugzeug unter Kontrolle.
1Lt. John L. Wanner
Air Corps, Pilot
B-17 42-107068 / Powerful Katrinka Crew
| Position | Rang | Name | Status | Bemerkung |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Thomas D. Butcher, Jr. | INT | - |
| CP | 2LT | Joseph L. Wells | INT | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Franklin R. Vita | INT | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Richard Daniels | INT | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Robert H. Reid | INT | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Rollin L. Bonham | INT | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Bennie G. Burseth | INT | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Rudolph F. Supper | INT | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Ralph F. Crawford | INT | - |
Diese Seite wurde zuletzt am 13. März 2020 aktualisiert

13. März 2020 access_time 17:05
To whom it may concern,
My name is Manuel Torres.
I would appreciate it if you could help me find WWII photographs of Unit 379th B-17 “Powerful Katrinka.” After being hit by anti-aircraft guns, this plane crashed near the city of Pamplona, Spain, close to the border with France.
I am working on a book about the connections of our town with WWII and we do need some topic-related photographs.
Thank you in advance for any kind of help.
Manuel Torres
13. März 2020 access_time 20:21
Hello Manuel,
I found and uploaded a photo of ‚Powerful Katrinka‘ with John G. Hamlin and crew.
The source of the photo:
https://www.fold3.com/image/48252249
PS: I couldn’t send you an email. Maybe your email adress is wrong.
Hope you see my reply to your comment here.
Cheers
Jing
09. Juni 2020 access_time 12:21
Thank you very much from Pamplona (Spain). I‘ got your information
12. Juni 2020 access_time 8:31
Great!
18. März 2026 access_time 23:14
mi abuelo se llamaba Manuel Castaño y era guardia civil destinado en el lugar del accidente del powerful katrinka. Se que atendió a los americanos y que les dio buen trato. siempre escuché esta historia de boca de mi padre. Si el nombre de mi abuelo sale en algún documento por favor contactar conmigo.
22. August 2020 access_time 0:19
Hi Manuel. I am an American Santiago Peregrino and have been in Espinal 4 times. Someone there once told me of the Katrina story, and I have been fascinated with it ever since. Last summer I talked to the local „bar“ owner in town and he told me me the 16 y/o kid who first heard the crash is still living. Just yesterday i told a friend in Chicago that I want to donate a plaque to Espinal that would commemorate the incident. I hope to be in Espinal next year and would like to meet that man and also the family of the missionary priest who works in Africa, but was visiting his hometown in 2014 and told me how his father had helped feed the American pilots. I am going to post a lot of this story on St. Bartholomew Day (next Monday) in honor of the beautiful church in Espinal on various camino sites to make the story more well known.
18. März 2026 access_time 23:11
My grandfather, Manuel Castaño, was a member of the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) stationed at the crash site of the B-17 bomber ‚Powerful Katrinka.‘ I know he assisted the American crew and treated them with great kindness. I have always heard this story from my father. If my grandfather’s name appears in any documents, please contact me
29. Januar 2024 access_time 12:46
The photo depicts Katrinka’s first crew. My Father -in -law S/Sgt Boyce G. Nelson is front left, when one is facing the pic. The first crew completed 33 missions, and went to Northern Ireland to train new crews in a beat-up retired B-17 that turned out to be more dangerous than missions in Katrinka. The controls locks did not release properly on a takeoff and after rotation the pilot had to steer with the brakes, leaving skid marks all over the runway and using the trim tabs to stabilize the plane once it got airborne. That quick thinking saved the crew, but got some really funny, mocking comments from the British air traffic controllers in the tower regarding the takeoff.
02. August 2024 access_time 15:01
‚Powerful Katrinka‘ assigned to 524 sqd, not the 525, as per first crew ‚Oral History‘, EJ Army Armstrong (E), Library of Congress, Boyce G. Nelson (R) ‚Oral History‘ and their crew plaque at National Museum of Mighty Eighth Air Force, Pooler, GA.
18. März 2026 access_time 23:10
My grandfather, Manuel Castaño, was a member of the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) stationed at the crash site of the B-17 bomber ‚Powerful Katrinka.‘ I know he assisted the American crew and treated them with great kindness. I have always heard this story from my father. If my grandfather’s name appears in any documents, please contact me