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Quelle:
www.fold3.com
Produktionsblock:
B-17G-20-BO: 42-31432 bis 42-31631
Hersteller:
Boeing
- Bomber-Gruppe:
- 94th Bomb Group
- Bomber-Staffel:
- 331st Bomb Squadron
- RCL: QE-A
MACR: 4946 / KSU/ME/KU: 1892
Geschichte der
B-17 42-31540 / Miss Donna Mae II
Delivered Cheyenne 16/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Cleveland 9/12/43; Syracuse 11/12/43; Presque Is 15/12/43; Prestwick 19/12/43; Assigned 331BS/94BG [QE-A] Rougham 20/12/43; Missing in Action Berlin 19/5/44 with Marion Reid, Co-pilot: Lew Carter, Navigator: Roger Tessier, Bombardier: Stan Duffield, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lee Kieffer, Radio Operator: John Boone, Ball turret gunner: Ludwig Huth, Waist gunner: Jim Kalahar, Waist gunner: Dick Brennan,Tail gunner: Willard Christensen, obs-T/Sgt John Davis (11 Killed in Action); hit by bombs from 42-97791 (94BG) above knocking off left horizontal stabilizer, then wing broke off as it spun to earth, crashed Oderbergerstrasse, Berlin, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 4946. MISS DONNA MAE.
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 22. Februar 2020
B-17 42-31540 / Miss Donna Mae II Details
Wurde von einer 1000-Pfund-Bomber der darüber fliegenden B-17 #42-97791 ‘Trudy’ getroffen und stürzte ab. Alle 11 Besatzungsmitglieder kamen dabei ums leben.
B-17 42-31540 / Miss Donna Mae II Crew
| Position | Rang | Name | Status | Bemerkung |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Marion U. Reid | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Lewis T. Carter | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Roger F. Tessier | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Stanley D. Duffield | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Lee Z. Kieffer | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | John F. Boone | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Ludwig H. Huth | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | James A. Kalahar | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Richard E. Brennan | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Willard M. Christensen | KIA | - |
| --- | T/SGT | John B. Davis | KIA | RO |
03. Juni 2019 access_time 14:33
Umm…it doesn’t change the story, but please correct the statement where it says the “knocking off left rudder” – it was the left horizontal stabilizer.
It has only ONE rudder and it’s still 100% intact, as one can see from the photos.
This is an easy fix on your part!
03. Juni 2019 access_time 16:27
Thank you Tom!
I fixed it 🙂
22. Oktober 2019 access_time 16:50
My uncle was the tail gunner. I have done a lot of research on this aircraft. very fascinating. May Uncle Willard and the rest of the crew R.I.P.
20. Januar 2020 access_time 7:37
Hi Kent! Willard is my great uncle and my dad is now a military historian. We would love it if you could send some of the research you have of the plane and Willard.
14. Februar 2020 access_time 4:19
Jonathan, I have Willard’s watch he gave my dad Manley J Christensen, Willard’s youngest brother. the watch still runs and also have his High School letter in Basketball from Osnabrock.
email me anytime
13. September 2022 access_time 11:26
Hello Jonathan,
Christensen was my great uncle also. Would love to chat. May I call you?
Joe McGriff
435-813-8623
Central Utah
23. Februar 2022 access_time 17:32
Hi Kent, Willard Christensen was my great uncle. My mother told us about this story when we were young kids. It always fascinated me and made me sad about what happened. My moms father and my grandfather Tony Christensen was supposed to be on that flight. The story goes that Willard Christiansen switched missions with his brother Tony Christensen who was also a tail gunner in the B-17. They went into the military together, trained together and stayed together during their missions as tail gunners. My mother said that my grandfather was never the same after the war. It’s hard to imagine what they went through during the war. We stand on the shoulders of giants. They are all heroes.
13. September 2022 access_time 11:23
Hi Kent, Willard Christensen was my great uncle also. Would love to chat. May I call you?
Joe McGriff
435-813-8623
Central Utah
20. Februar 2020 access_time 14:04
My family lost (ENG/TT T/SGT Lee Z. (Zane) Kieffer KIA) He was from Arcadia, Ohio (Washington Township of Hancock County). Lived in a farm house just north of town. Graduated from Arcadia High School.
12. Februar 2024 access_time 16:45
Hi Rob! It has been a VERY long time! If you want to stay in contact my Email is bonniesueep@gmail.com, I don’t have social media.
24. September 2020 access_time 16:50
Back in the 90’s I met the photographer of the B-17 Trudy. He was on a mission on the bombing run approach. Another B-17 drifted into “Trudy” from the right. To late as the bombs dropped. The ball turret gummer was the photographer. “Miss Donna Mae” when down, spun, lost a wing, crashed nobody got out. When they returned the pilots of “Trudy were coart masheled but the photographer prooved that Miss Donna Mae was out of position. They on “Trudy” were cleared of any wrong doing. 1st. lt. Reid was a new replacement pilot. Just an accident. Sad but true.
24. September 2020 access_time 19:42
Thank you for this information. These kind of accident happened several time.
20. Dezember 2023 access_time 6:14
Mr. Jimenez, i Have Seen This Photograph Since The Early ’60s. i Have Always Thought Of This Accident As A Tragedy.
Until Now, i Did Not Know Any Of The Details That Led To This Catastrophe And Its Solemn End.
Thank You For Shedding Light On This
“Average” Day During WW2 !!!
David G Zamora
CW2, US Army ( Ret. ), Aviation
TH–55 UH–1 OH–58 TH–67
Flight Instructor
Edinburg Texas
😪😪😪 🌠 ⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️ 🇺🇲
31. Dezember 2023 access_time 16:49
My wife Great uncle was the navigator 2 LT Roger Tessier
15. Januar 2024 access_time 1:49
John Davis was my uncle this was very hard on his younger brothers one in german prisoner of war and one fighting Japanese
12. Februar 2024 access_time 6:13
Hello all! My grandfather was first cousins with Lee Zane Kieffer. It was a tremendous loss for him. He talked about him until the end of his life. My mother and i are interested in corresponding with the other members of the planes families. I just want to know more about the men that shared their last moments with Zane. Thank you.