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Quelle:
facebook.com/worldwarincolor
Produktionsblock:
B-17F-30-BO: 42-5050 bis 42-5078
Hersteller:
Boeing
- Bomber-Gruppe:
- 91st Bomb Group
- Bomber-Staffel:
- 324th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: DF-G
MACR: 281
Einsätze: 20
Geschichte der
B-17 42-5069 / Our Gang
Delivered Cheyenne 13/9/42; New Castle 19/11/42; Assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-G] Bassingbourn 23/11/42; Missing in Action 20m Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Bill Wheeler (401BS), Co-pilot: Louis Bianchi, Navigator: Joe Newberry, Bombardier: Denver Woodward, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bayne Scurlock, Radio Operator: Jim Cobb, Ball turret gunner: Lloyd Thomas, Waist gunner: Ray Gillet, Waist gunner: Jim McGovern,Tail gunner: Jim McBride (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft KO’d #1 & #2, lagged behind crashed St Goar, 15 miles S of Coblenz, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 281. OUR GANG.
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 11. März 2020
B-17 42-5069 / Our Gang Details
Beobachtung von Lt. Buster (NMI) Peek, aus einer Höhe von 21000 Fuß. (MACR 281)
Das Flugzeug 069, die unser Element in der Verbundgruppe anführte, wurde von feindlichen Jagdflugzeugen schwer getroffen, und die Triebwerke Nr. 1 und Nr. 2 sowie die linke Tragfläche brannten. Als es getroffen wurde, geriet das Flugzeug außer Kontrolle, kam aber unter Kontrolle auf unserer Höhe zurück und flog auf seiner Position weiter, bis der Co-Pilot uns zuwinkte, da es ständig an Höhe verlor und nach unten fiel. Das Flugzeug 069 wurde zuletzt um 14:10 Uhr in der Nähe von Eupen gesehen, als es in einer Linkskurve allmählich abstürzte, wobei der Pilot versuchte, die Kontrolle lange genug zu behalten, um den Männern das Abspringen zu ermöglichen. Es wurde angenommen, dass sechs bis acht Fallschirme von diesem Flugzeug kamen.
B-17 42-5069 / Our Gang Crew
| Position | Rang | Name | Status | Bemerkung |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | --- | William H. Wheeler | POW | - |
| CP | --- | Louis J. Bianchi | POW | - |
| NAV | --- | Joseph R. Newberry | POW | - |
| BOMB | --- | Denver E. Woodward | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | --- | Bayne P. Scurlock | POW | - |
| RO | --- | James C. Cobb | POW | - |
| BT | --- | Lloyd Thomas | POW | - |
| WG | --- | Raymond O. Gillet | POW | - |
| WG | --- | James J. McGovern | POW | - |
| TG | --- | James P. McBride | POW | - |
23. Dezember 2021 access_time 4:04
Please note the Our Gang-colored picture is that of an earlier crew and not the crew that went down and became pows. The reason that I know is that is my late father Jacob Levine who was the Flight Engineer is holding his Black Dog Windy while sitting on the Hood. The pilot’s last name was Smith who has the other dog (Skipper?) and is sitting in the drivers seat. My Dad’s last flight with his crew on that plane was on 6/22/1943 to Hulls Germany. The crew was reassigned to another plane three days later.
15. Mai 2022 access_time 2:27
The Captain in the photo is my grandfather, James Murray Smith. He finished his tour of duty at Bassingbourne and returned to the States just days before Our Gang was lost, and just weeks before my father was born. He went on to have a long Air Force career, and retired as a Colonel at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisianain 1977. His dog Skipper was succeeded by many more furry friends over the years!
29. Januar 2024 access_time 21:10
I have never seen this photo before, but my dad, Jim Cobb, was part of this crew, the radioman. He was shot down over Germany and was a POW. After the war, he lived in hometown of Fremont, NC, married, 2 children, good life. He never, ever talked about the war.
27. März 2024 access_time 17:34
My dad, James Murray Smith, was the Captain of Our Gang in the photo and not the crew listed that went down as noted in an earlier comment. My dad is sitting in the driver’s seat with his cocker spaniel Skipper. The photo also has “Lady Frances” on the B-17, which is my mother.