B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-5468 / Qui-Nine -The Bitter Dose

Delivered at Denver 11-Dec-42; Salina 8-Jan-43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-I] Molesworth 8-Apr-43; On 25-Jun-43 the aircraft was depatched to bomb the construction shops adjacent to the submarine building at Hamburg, Germany. On the return the aircraft was attacked by German fighters, killing the Radio Operator, TSgt Dick W. Jones and wounding the Navigator and both Waist Gunners. The Pilot, Capt. George V. Stallings managed to fly the crippled aircraft back to England and the crew parachuted to safety over Coltishall, Norfolk. The pilot then flew the aircraft out over the sea off the coast at Waxham, Norfolk, baled out, and swam to shore. Capt Stalling was awarded both the British and American Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. See the Biographies of the other crew members for their decorations. 1KIA 10RTD