B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31488 / Shade Ruff

History of
B-17 42-31488 / Shade Ruff

Delivered Cheyenne 8/11/43; Gt Falls 11/11/43; Kearney 28/11/43; Romulus 4/12/43; Bangor 5/12/43; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-D] Deenethorpe 2/1/44; Missing in Action Berlin 8/3/44 with Dale Peterson, Co-pilot: George Morse, Navigator: Harley Honeberger, Bombardier: Bob Greed, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Delivered Giorno, Radio Operator: John Kuntz, Ball turret gunner: Art Newell, Waist gunner: Joe Jay,Tail gunner: Howard Kneese (9 Prisoner of War); Waist gunner: Frank Bailey (KIS-actually died of exhaustion near Neubrandenburg 27/4/45 while marching from the Russian advance); enemy aircraft, crashed Teglingen Sluice, two miles SE of Meppen, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 2911. SHADE RUFF.

Last updated: 18. February 2020

B-17 42-31488 / Shade Ruff Details

Witness Statement from MACR 2911

A/C first seen at 1453 hours lagging behind and below. Place was near Stendal. Four P-38’s picked up this lagging B-17 after it fired about 15 red flares from the left window. P-38’s stayed with is almost one half hour, flying back and forth between it and the rest of the group. A/C was last seen falling farther and farther behind at about 23000 feet. It was under control. Bomb bay doors were open.

The a/c was flying alone. It was hit and lost altitude. The a/c was hit again near Meppen and the left inside engine was on fire. It crashed.

B-17 42-31488 / Shade Ruff Crew