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Source:
photos.384thbombgroup.com
Production-block:
B-17F-85-BO: 42-30032 to 42-30131
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 384th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 544th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: BK-K
MACR: 289
Missions: 9
History of
B-17 42-30046 / Merrie Hell
Delivered Cheyenne 3/4/43; Sioux City 14/4/43; Kearney 4/5/43; Bangor 20/5/43; Assigned: 546BS/384BG [BK-K] Grafton Underwood 24/5/43; MIA Recklinghausen 12/8/43 Pilot: Ernie Sierens{body never found}, Co-Pilot: Joel Acker, Navigator: Spiridon Scoursi, Bombardier: Allan Blossman, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Melvin Johnson, Ball Turret Gunner: George Hunt, Waist Gunner: Van Jones, Waist Gunner: Melvin Hansen (8KIA); Radio Operator: Harry Kettermann, Tail Gunner: Louis Brindley (2POW); flak blew off nose, crashed Gelsenkirchen, Germany. MACR 289. MERRIE HELL.
Last updated: 24. October 2018
10. June 2024 access_time 17:10
http://www.390th.org/…/winter2005…/MichaelRutaStory.htm
In an article he wrote in 1983 for the 390th Bomb Group Anthology, Ruta told of taking off from England in “very foul” weather on a 17-plane mission to bomb an airfield at Tours, France.
“After take-off we could not see our wing tips at 50 feet,” he recalled. “We had to climb to over 30,000 feet to try to break clear of the weather, upon doing so we were all alone.”