B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31907 / Homesick Angel II

Geschichte der
B-17 42-31907 / Homesick Angel II

Delivered Denver 3/1/44; Kearney 14/1/44; Assigned 326BS/92BG [JW-J] Podington 19/2/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 11/9/44 with Horace Spencer, rest ?; fate ?. J FOR JOHNNY aka HOMESICK ANGEL II.

Zuletzt aktualisiert: 30. Januar 2018

B-17 42-31907 / Homesick Angel II Details

Crew crash landed in France and all awarded the Bronze Star by General Patton.

“It was a rough mission, good escort, but the 326th “lost” one aircraft; the route to target was laden with heavy flak. Lt Spencer had problems beginning in mid channel having to feather #3 due to an oil leak. On reaching the IP, a direct hit took out #4. Now he had to drop out of the formation. More hits rendering the job of flying almost impossible and the stand-by order was passed. Everything possible went overboard, except the ball turret, for the lack of a wrench. The bombardier, Lt McCrosson, located a target. German warehouse, and aced it. Now “Homesick Angel” took on small arms fire. The #2 was burning. #3 and #4 out and at 800 feet the crew abandoned the aircraft. All landed near each other and were taken to a French family’s home. A 3rd Army representative soon arrived and took them to Gen. Patton’s Headquarters just outside Metz.” (Turner)

“Bailing out of their blazing, flak-riddled aircraft over no-man’s land, the crew parachuted down into France just behind the advancing patrols of the US Third Army. Picked up by forward elements of an ordnance battalion, 2nd Lt Horace L. Spencer [42-31907 (326th)] and his crew were turned over to Gen Patton’s headquarters within a few hours after landing. Summoned to the General’s staff headquarters the following morning, they anticipated a routine interrogation. Instead, they were met personally by the legendary general who, after congratulating them on their safe arrival in friendly territory, decorated each man with the Bronze Star, posed for and autographed a group picture, and placed his private plane at their disposal for the trip back to England. Members of the crew who shared this experience with Lt Spencer were 2nd Lts Paul K. Bupp, Sergeant J. Ableman and Harry J. McCrossen, M/Sgts Thomas F. Jenkins and Jack Spratt, and Sgts John L. Houk, Leslie G. Spillman, Jr., and John P. Hensley.” (Sloan)

Source: 92nd Bomb Group on Facebook

B-17 42-31907 / Homesick Angel II Crew