Production-block:
B-17G-50-VE: 44-8101 to 44-8200
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 379th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 526th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: LF-M
Fate:
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History of
B-17 44-8198
Delivered Dallas 7/7/44; Langley 5/8/44; Hunter 2/9/44; Assigned: 526BS/379BG Kimbolton 5/10/44; mid air col Pilot: 44-8813 over Braintree, Ex 10/5/45 w/Tom Piers; Salvaged. n/battle damage 11/5/45.
Last updated: 27. May 2024
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B-17 44-8198 Details
B-17G 44-8198 Memorial Dedication
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B-17 44-8198 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Thomas Gill Piers | KIS | - |
| CP | 2LT | William Francis Powell | KIS | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Paul Anthony Messina | KIS | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | Irving Nussbaum | KIS | Passenger |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Jerome Albert Geers | KIS | Passenger |
| RO | M/SGT | Wagner Farnum Crane | KIS | Passenger |
| BT | CPL | George Harold Miller | KIS | Passenger |
| WG | S/SGT | Merrill John Blanck | KIS | Passenger |
| WG | S/SGT | Leslie Godfrey Lusk | KIS | Passenger |
| TG | S/SGT | Robert James Brockman | KIS | Passenger |
| PASS | --- | Walker W. Wallace | KIS | Passenger (Tech-5) |
30. January 2024 access_time 6:20
Hi Jing!
Thanks for your wonderful work.
The pilot of 44-8198 on 10 May 1945 was my 2nd Cousin, Lt. Thomas Piers. He flew 24 missions for the 379th out of Kimbolton between November 9, 1944 and March 28, 1945. He was the oldest of his crew and known as “Pops.” Per the 379th historian, Lt. Piers piloted 23 missions with the 524th, and his 24th mission apparently was as a fill-in with the 526th.
Ironically, the plane Lt. Piers flew on his 24th mission, 44-8813, was the same plane that collided mid-air with Lt. Piers in 44-8198 on 10 May 1945, while they were flying a “Cook Tour” over Germany to show off their accomplishments to ground crews. 44-8813 knocked the tail off 44-8198. All 11 occupants of 44-8198 perished. 44-8813 made it back to Kimbolton safely.
All Honor to all their names!
STEVEN D. SMITH