B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-5942 / Sky Shy aka Wenatchee Special

History of
B-17 42-5942 / Sky Shy aka Wenatchee Special

Delivered Long Beach 26/5/43; Denver 4/6/43; Dow Fd 28/6/43; Assigned: 563BS/388BG Knettishall WENATCHEE SPECIAL 4/7/43; MIA Stuttgart 6/9/43 Pilot: Myron Bowen, Co-Pilot: Warren Woods, Navigator: Art Copeland, Bombardier: Ed Hasson, Ball Turret Gunner: Theo Czygier, Waist Gunner: Harry Richards, Waist Gunner: Albt Smith, Tail Gunner: Jim Frankenfield (8POW); Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Dave Wiesner, Radio Operator: Joe Redmond (2KIA); flak, crashed Germany. any heading for Switzerland, MACR 3121. SKY SHY.

Last updated: 22. January 2020

B-17 42-5942 / Sky Shy aka Wenatchee Special Details

Through extensive research in archives and contemporary witnesses, local historian Peter Lindenthal has been able to reconstruct the exact course of events. According to this the B-17 #42-5942 was shot down by Major Thimmig. Whereby the technician and gunner S/Sgt. David Earl Wiesner was killed.

All crew members except the radio operator Sgt. Joseph Harrison Redmond and the killed S/Sgt. Sgt. Joseph Harrison Redmond probably had not heard the order to leave the B-17. This could be taken from the MACR 3121. He also had another parachute which only allowed him to jump from the side door on the fuselage. This door was however damaged by flak and could not be opened, so that he was probably forced to remain in the B-17 and to try an emergency landing.

During the emergency landing Sgt. Joseph Harrison Redmond injured himself so heavily that he died one day later.

B-17 42-5942 / Sky Shy aka Wenatchee Special Crew