The B-17 became a symbol of American air war efforts during World War II, attaining legendary status due to its reliability and combat prowess.
“The best bomber which was ever built. She could handle extensive damage and still stay in the air.”
General Ira C. Eaker
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber in WW2. With database about the fate of each single aircraft.
Search my B-17 Database for aircraft serial numbers, names, etc…
My B-17 database includes all built aircraft. The information in the database is updated regularly.
Delivered Long Beach 8/9/43; Gr Island 3/10/43; ass 332BS/94BG [XM-N] Rougham 8/10/43; MIA Munster 11/11/43 w/Dick Ralls, cp-Hugh Hardgrove, b-Theo Hathaway, ettg-Lester Mann, ro-Francis Markwell, btg-Lynnford Smith, wg-Bill Borman{body washed up Scharendijke, Schouwen Is, Holl 19/6/44}, wg-John Smith, tg-Alf Salsgiver (9KIA); n-John Thompson (POW); fighter, on fire going down, ditched North Sea, 30 km west of Westerschouwen, the Netherlands; MACR 1066. CASEY JONES.
Delivered Cheyenne 3/6/43; Gore 16/6/43; Kearney 18/6/43; Dow Fd 8/7/43; Assigned 331BS/94BG [QE-N] Rougham 9/7/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 14/10/43 with Tom Beal, Co-pilot: Hubert Moseley (2 Prisoner of War); Navigator: George Glatthar, Bombardier: Ed Burley, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Tracy, Radio Operator: Chas Elwell, Ball turret gunner: Levorn Jawgochian, Waist gunner: Bob Hamrick, Waist gunner: Bob Dillon, Tail gunner: Larry Sheck (8 evaded capture); enemy aircraft, crashed near Boissy-Fresnoy/Peroy-les-Gomberies, 50 km north-east of Paris, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 792. JIMMY BOY II.
Delivered Kearney 5/7/44; Grenier 12/7/44; Assigned 816BS/483BG Sterparone 14/7/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 12/7/45; Independence 22/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 31/12/45. PICK UP.
Delivered Cheyenne 24/12/43; Scott Fd 6/1/44; Hunter 10/1/44; Lakeland 11/1/44; Morrison 13/2/44; Assigned 774BS/463BG Celone 15/2/44; Missing in Action Ploesti 5/5/44 with Bill Smith, Co-pilot: Gittis Gosdin, Navigator: Paul McCollum, Bombardier: Don Graham, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Albert Bagy, Radio Operator: Glen Johnson, Ball turret gunner: Bill Lyons, Waist gunner: Jim McKee, Waist gunner: Galen Strand,Tail gunner: Joe Stranmeier; 10 INT in Turkey. Crew returned to the US on 29 June, 1944. Flak, last seen near Ploesti, Romania; Missing Air Crew Report 4616.
Delivered: Long Beach 18/10/43; Gr Island 10/11/43; ass 551BS/385BG [HR-M] (?), [HR-N] Gt Ashfield 27/11/43; damaged over Saarbrucken 23/5/44 Pilot/Crew: ?. (10RTD) ditched English Channel off Hove, Sussex, no MACR
Delivered Long Beach 25/8/43; Cheyenne 11/9/43; Mat. Com. Wright 2/6/44 as a propeller feathering test aircraft; 4100 BU Patterson 15/2/45; 234 BU Clovis 19/2/45; 400 BU Wright 4/3/45; 4145 BU Wendover 18/4/45; 4135 BH Hill Fd 4/6/46; 4145 BU Alamagordo 31/3/47; 4136 BU – 23/12/47; 4146 BU Holloman 29/4/48; 2754 AB Gp Holloman 5/4/49; 2753 AST Gp Pyote 13/4/49; Recl Comp Pyote 4/4/50.
Delivered Denver 10/2/44; 1SAG Langley 4/4/44; Morrison 28/4/44; Assigned (PFF) 49BS/2BG Amendola 6/5/44; transferred 97BG Cerignola 30/5/44; NBD, to depot and sal 20/7/44. YANKEE DOODLE II
Delivered Denver 13/1/44; 1SAG Langley 22/2/44; Morrison 22/3/44; Assigned (PFF) 49BS/2BG Amendola 23/3/44; transferred 414BS/97BG Amendola 4/44; 301BG Lucera /44; Returned to the USA 1103 BU Morrison 25/2/45; 4100 BU Patterson 23/2/45; Recl Comp 2/5/46.
Delivered Denver 27/9/43; Gr Island 15/10/43; Assigned 569BS/390BG [CC-E] Framlingham 21/10/43; severe battle damaged over Berlin 6/3/44 with J. Flottorp, crew ? (10 Returned to Duty); on return aircraft had over 700 holes and sal 8/3/44. GLORIA ANN.
Recent Comments
Richard Ross on 18 October 2026 in 42-30334 / Virgin Sturgeon aka Eight Ball
This is incorrect. The collision with Carry allowed the crew to bail out. The pilot and navigator remained with the airplane and attempted to reach neutral Switzerland. They were set...
Mike on 18 October 2026 in 42-30176 / Assassin
Hi Dave, my name is Mike Ager and I produce the 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association newsletter for the Red Feather Club in the UK and would love to run...
Josh Zeller on 17 October 2026 in 42-97334 / Haard Luck
Did you ever get any HAARD LUCK pictures restored? That was my Grandpa’s plane, Carl Swanson.
Brooks Johnson on 17 October 2026 in 41-2565
Looking for information on B-17-41-2565. Sgt. John H. Starr died from his injuries on May 3, 1942. There was one survivor Tech. Sgt Wesley E Wallace. At the time of...
Maribeth Wilson Collier on 16 October 2026 in 41-24459 / Hellzapoppin
John Wilson, the pilot, was my Dad’s (Floyd L. Wilson) first cousin. John grew up on a farm in Iowa, but came to Kansas City during the depression to find...
Rodney Hudson on 15 October 2026 in 42-31454 / St. Anthony
My grandfather was radio operator on the plane in march or April of 1944 would like a little more history on crew.
Georg Schwarzenberger on 12 October 2026 in 42-3528
I live in a small district of the town Kruen, called „Barmsee“. It has the same name like the lake close by. My neighbour who died arround 2000 was a...
Roger Vanderveen on 11 October 2026 in 43-37673 / That’s All Jack
Edi, My email is rog@vanclan.org. Mail me and I'll say more. -- Roger
Jennifer (Stickle) Fortin on 11 October 2026 in 43-38665
I have a picture of him. Roderick Stickle was my grandfather.
Edith Bajema on 09 October 2026 in 43-37673 / That’s All Jack
Roger, so good to hear from you. My husband, Phil Bajema, and I live now in Minneapolis, MN, but I grew up in Ripon. Yes, Helen and I were close...