B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-97764

History of
B-17 42-97764

Delivered Cheyenne 17/2/44; Denver 2/3/44; 1SAG Langley 30/5/44; Grenier 19/6/44; Assigned: 413BS/96BG Snetterton 29/6/44; MIA Merseburg 28/7/44 Pilot: Mel Franklin, (+ 452BG crew), Capt John Slusser, Norman Willbach, Frank Parker, Martin Guyette, Bill Crandall {mickey op} (6KIA); Warren Payne, Ray Keegan, F/O Harry Eastman {tg} (3POW); mid air coll, ‘ w/42-97616, crashed Merseburg, Germany. MACR 7828.

Last updated: 26. December 2021

B-17 42-97764 Details

Mid-air-collision with B-17 #42-97616 Hi-Blower on 28 July 1944.

Following statement made by 1st Lt. John A. Zimmerman:

About three to four minutes after the I.P, we had another Combat Wing coming in to our left. After this Wing went in front of our Group we were bothered by prop wash. The lead aircraft (B-17G 42-97616) seemed to pass over on top of #2 (B-17G 42-97764) and at the same time both aircraft were apparently hit by prop wash. Also It is believed that the two aircraft were attempting to change positions so that 97764 would have the lead. They collided with A/C 764 hitting the rear section of A/C 616. The rest of the formation banked to the left to avoid the two aircraft.

One of the planes with its tail off descended rapidly for approximately 3,000 feet and then disintegated. Bombs were observed falling from this plane as apparently they had been salvoed. The other plane went into a vertical dive and disappeared into the clouds which were then at approximately, 10,000 feet. The tail gunner on one of the planes (believed to have been 616) parachuted. In addition there were five other chutes observed.

Source: MACR 7828

B-17 42-97764 Crew