Produktionsblock:
B-17G-15-DL: 42-37804 bis 42-37893
Hersteller:
Douglas
- Bomber-Gruppe:
- 305th Bomb Group
- Bomber-Staffel:
- 365th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: XK-K
MACR: 8069
Geschichte der
B-17 42-37881 / Leap Year Lady
Delivered Denver 2/10/43; Gr Island 22/10/43; Assigned 365BS/305BG [XK-K] Chelveston 23/11/43; Missing in Action Ulm 9/8/44 with John Hegendeffer, Co-pilot: Rolland Wing, Ball turret gunner: Bill Horst, Waist gunner: Bill Montandon,Tail gunner: Jack Thaldorf (5 Killed in Action); Navigator: Bill Packwood, Bombardier: Herman Steck, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Elroy Knollenberg, Radio Operator: Dan Gurspan (4 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft set #1 on fire and another damaged, spinning down aircraft broke in two, crashed Halberstung, near Sinzheim, W of Baden-Baden, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 8069. LEAP YEAR LADY.
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 10. April 2018
11. Januar 2020 access_time 1:01
My Father Ira E Benbow S/Sgt tail gunner in the aircraft Leap Year Lady named by first commanding pilot after his girlfriend sent home town paper with a horse with that name listed in the sports section winning a race. My Father was with the first crew who flew 26 successful missions in this B-17 from Dec 13, 1943 thru Apr 22, 1944. The plane was lost in August 1944.
11. Januar 2020 access_time 11:33
Thank you for sharing these facts!
16. Dezember 2023 access_time 20:15
My uncle, Elmer Stallmann, was a gunner on that plane. It must have been in it’s second set of 25 missions. He died on June 26, 1944 from shrapnel hitting his gunner turret. The rest of the crew survived to complete their 25 missions. I knew that that plane was lost later that year. Thank you for the additional info. I have a photo of that crew in front of Leap Year Lady.