| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-10-VE: 42-39958 to 42-40057 |
| Delievered: | Long Beach |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 385th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 551st Bomb Squadron |
| MACR: | 1897 |
| German Document: | KU-617 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by mechanical fault, Lost by enemy aircraft (04 January 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-40046
Delivered Long Beach 11/11/43; Gr Island 24/11/43; Presque Is 30/11/43; Prestwick, Scotland, UK 6/12/43; ass 551BS/385BG [HR- ] Gt Ashfield 14/12/43; MIA Kiel 4/1/44 Pilot: Ashley Bean, Co-Pilot: Floyd Whiteley, Navigator: Carl Flagstad, Bombardier: Bruce Barclay, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Carl Alexander, Radio Operator: Larry Andrews, Ball Turret Gunner: Gene Bergen, Waist Gunner: Don Farrington, Waist Gunner: Rex Kerwin, Tail Gunner: Chas Briska (10POW); mech fault & two engines out, then shot down by fighters. Crashed Luetjenhorn, five miles north-east of Leck [or 22 km west of Flensburg], Schleswig/Holstein, Germany. MACR 1897.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-40046 Details
At the time this ship was [unreadable part in MACR] and the number two prop was feathered and the pilot apparently was having trouble with his number three engine. Details as to why the aircraft went down are lacking. This ship was lost under fighter attack when last seen.
Source: MACR 1897
B-17 42-40046 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name (First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name) | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Ashley R. Bean | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Floyd L. Whiteley | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Carl O. Flagstad | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Bruce E. Baralay | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Carl R. Alexander | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Lawrence R. Andrews | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Engene A. Bergen | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Donald G. Farrington | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Rex E. Kerwin | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Charles Briska | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 07 June 2026
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