Produktionsblock:
B-17F-55-BO: 42-29467 bis 42-29531
Hersteller:
Boeing
- Bomber-Gruppe:
- 99th Bomb Group
- Bomber-Staffel:
- 348th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 240 & 386
Geschichte der
B-17 42-29483 / Dee Zip Zip
Delivered Cheyenne 22/12/42; Salina 4/1/43; DeRidder 31/1/43; Morrison 4/2/43; Assigned 15Ferry Gp to Atkinson Fd, Br. Guiana where it had taxi accident with Albert Davis, repaired and Assigned 348BS/99BG Navarin 20/2/43; Missing in Action Gerbini 5/7/43 with Al Davis, Perry, Shanks, Huckabee, Fleming, Withrow, Torssell, (6 Prisoner of War); Ewalt, Esposito, Mills, Logan (4 Killed in Action); Perry escapes, ret 9/6/44, Torssell escapes, ret 27/6/43; Huckabee & Fleming, both wia, rescued by US Army. Missing Air Crew Report 240 & 386.
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 26. Juni 2020
B-17 42-29483 / Dee Zip Zip Details
Augenzeugenbericht zum Verlust der B-17 Nr. 42-29483
Von der Rumpfschützen-Position des Flugzeugs Nr. 42-29842 aus, dem linken Flügel des Führungselements der 348. Staffel, beobachtete ich, wie das Flugzeug Nr. 42-29483 rasch an Höhe verlor und aus der Formation zurückfiel. Es war das einzige verbliebene Flugzeug im Dreier-Element, wobei ein Flügel der B-17 infolge feindlicher Einwirkung in der Luft explodierte und der andere ebenfalls durch das Feuer feindlicher Flugzeuge vollständig von Flammen umhüllt war und anschließend auf den Boden stürzte. Wir befanden uns zu dieser Zeit über dem Zielgebiet, etwa um 1130 Uhr.
Anscheinend half Lt. Davis, Pilot von 29483, bei dem Versuch, seinen in Flammen stehenden Flügelmann zu decken, und setzte sich dabei feindlichem Beschuss durch feindliche Jäger aus. Ich sah, wie das Flugzeug schnell abstürzte und weit zurückflog, während er von feindlichen Verfolgern umschwärmt wurde. Der oberste Turmschütze wurde weg geschossen. Die B-17 fiel immer noch, und als ich sie das letzte Mal sah, griffen Jäger aus allen Winkeln an. Wir waren alle zu sehr mit unseren eigenen Geschützen beschäftigt, um sie weiter beobachten zu können.
S/Sgt. Falvey G. Haynes
348th Sq, 99th Bomb Gp.
B-17 42-29483 / Dee Zip Zip Crew
| Position | Rang | Name | Status | Bemerkung |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Albert E. Davis | POW | - |
| CP | 1LT | Allen J. Ewoldt | KIA | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Herbert O. Perry | POW/ESC | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | Vincent E. Shank | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | John B. Withrow | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | David O. Fleming | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Frank M. Esposito | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Carson E. Logan | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Allan B. Hucksbee | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Robert Mills | KIA | - |
| PHOTO | SGT | Neil E. Torssell | POW/ESC | - |
26. Juni 2020 access_time 18:40
B-17, 42-29483 was called Dee Zip Zip my father was Neil. E. Torssell not Terssel he was the 11th crew member not normally assigned to the crew as he was an Aerial Photographer, He was captured 5 Jul 43, escaped in 14 September 43 from Camp 59, Servigliano, Italy and repatriated 29 Jun 44.
26. Juni 2020 access_time 19:09
Thank you Steven!
I have updated the crew list and added eyewitness statement.
And added the name to this B-17.
30. Juli 2020 access_time 14:34
Dear Steven, my name is Giuseppe, I live in the south east of Sicily. My father told me that he saw an US b-17 shot down near his country house, attacked by Italian and German planes. Remember that one of the pilots who had parachuted had been taken prisoner by the local police. That American soldier, despite being under threat from the policeman’s weapons, took a bar of chocolate from his pocket and gave it to my father who was 8 years old at the time. I saw that your father is dead, sorry for that. Did he ever tell you about how he was taken prisoner? Could it be him who gave chocolate to my father ? Thanks and best regards from Italy
31. Juli 2020 access_time 14:34
Hello Giuseppe,
I have informed Steven about your comment.
I hope, he will read and reply to your comment.
Kind regards
Jing
22. Dezember 2020 access_time 14:27
Hi Giuseppe, Steven. I am a Sicilian researcher and author
I have information about your plane. Please contact me.
Thanks in advanced.
Salvo
19. März 2021 access_time 12:47
Mr. Fagone, Sorry for not responding sooner, I don’t visit this site very often. Would be interested in finding out what information you have on the aircraft. My Dad was an aerial photographer on the aircraft when it was shot down over Gerbrinni Aerodrome, 5 July 1943. The aircraft was one of 3 that were shot down out of a formation of 27.
30. September 2024 access_time 16:41
In 2021, the USAF sent a team of men to find the wreck of a B-17 and found it five miles north of Randazzo, Sicily. Several crewmen were found dead in the plane by Sicilians soon after the crash. Two of the crewmen were found by Sicilians and hidden until the Allies advanced past Randazzo. So this plane they found was probably “Dee Zip Zip.”