Source:
www.385thbga.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-20-DL: 42-37894 to 42-37988 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 385th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 549th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | XA-E |
| MACR | 3823 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | 1442 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (11 April 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-37977 / Blue Champagne
Delivered Denver 3/11/43; Kearney 13/11/43; ass 549BS/385BG Gt Ashfield 1/12/43; MIA Stettin 11/4/44 Pilot: Bob Bailey, Co-Pilot: Wayne Corbin, Navigator: George Contos, Bombardier: Barney Coble, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Cliff Lybeck, Radio Operator: Curtis Ailes, Ball Turret Gunner: Melvin Gillis, Waist Gunner: Noble Brucker, Waist Gunner: Norman Hill, Tail Gunner: Corbett Figate (10POW); flak KOd #2, crashed Dargen, N of Oderhaff, Germany. near Polish border. MACR 3823. BLUE CHAMPAGNE.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-37977 / Blue Champagne Details
From MACR 3823
Aircraft No. 42-37977 was apparently hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire over the target area. No. 2 engine was seen to be feathered and another engine was windmilling. The aircraft was seen to lose some altitude but was last seen under control and heading for Sweden. Two crews reported that the crew of 42-37977 bailed out of this aircraft at the Baltic Coast of Germany. This information cannot be verified as other reports are contradicting.
B-17 42-37977 / Blue Champagne Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Robert B. Railey | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Wayne D. Corbin | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | George Kontes | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Clifford Lybeck | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Curtis A. Ailes | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Melvin D. Gillis | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Noble W. Brucker | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Norman A. Hill | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Corbett Fugate | POW | - |
| TOG | S/SGT | Barney J. Coble | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 19 April 2020
06. October 2020 access_time 0:40
I was Born in 1953 I was One of Three Brothers & Two Sisters , Jerry ,Toby, Pam, me, Terry and Julia . Dad Married Ethel June Saylor . My Dad Curtis Albert Ailes was a Fantastic Father ! . Dad Never Talked About The War . Only gun Dad Owned was A Squirrel Riffle of Has Dads . Thanks so Very Much For All These Information,s James Curtis Ailes 🇺🇸⚔️🇺🇸
21. February 2025 access_time 12:35
Hello Mr. Ailes, I just saw your post about your familymember was part of that crew of the B-17 crashed near Dargen. A friend of mine located the crashsite and found wreckage parts of the aircraft.
If you are interested in more details, please contact me on Mail mu.benkel@t-online.de
Best wishes
Uwe Benkel
C.S.I. (Crashsite Investigation Germany