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Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17G-15-BO: 42-31332 to 42-31431
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 452nd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 729th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 7710
History of
B-17 42-31361 / The Punched Fowl
Delivered Cheyenne 25/10/43; Walla Walla 9/11/43; Assigned: 729BS/452BG Deopham Green 3/1/44; MIA Bremen 4/8/44 Pilot: Edwin Arey, Ernie Thorp, Bob Denner, Harry Serowsky, Leroy Bair, Larry Rosenberger, Theophilus Libucha, Marris Daso (8POW); Orran Floyd (KIA); flak, ditched North Sea. MACR 7710. THE PUNCHED FOWL.
Last updated: 7. September 2020
B-17 42-31361 / The Punched Fowl Details
Following statement obtained by S-2 Section, 452nd Bomb Group (H) at interrogation after return of mission.
A/C 361 sustained a flak hit in the vicinity of the I.P., at which point one engine was observed on fire and the A/C left the formation – peeling off in front of the formation slowly circling to the left and headed got the North Sea. The A/C was then flying at 25000 feet and appeared to be completely under control. When the A/C fell out of formation both escape hatches were seen to come off and four to six chutes were observed from the plane. No further information concerning to loss of this A/C has been obtained, however, one returning crew reported observing an oil spot and dinghy off the coast at 5410N – 0734E (observation made at 1333 hours, from 20000 feet on a 320° heading) which they think might have been from the missing A/C 361.
Source: MACR 7710
B-17 42-31361 / The Punched Fowl Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Edwin V. Arey | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Ernest N. Thorp | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Robert M. Danner | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Orran O. Floyd | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Harry Serowsky | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Leroy D. Bair | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Lawrence J. Rosenberger | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Theophilus Libucha | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Morris R. Daso | POW | - |
12. February 2020 access_time 4:14
This is the first plane my Father flew in.The one time he didn’t go up the plane went down do to flak.
12. February 2020 access_time 20:24
Your father was lucky?
What’s your father’s name?
06. April 2020 access_time 0:18
my Grandfather was on the mission where the punched fowl was shot down. I don’t think he was supposed to be on the flight that day.
22. November 2021 access_time 8:15
My grandfather was the Radio operator on this aircraft when it was downed. He passed in 1977 when his 210 cessna suffered a wing separation in a storm.
01. February 2023 access_time 3:34
This was my grandfathers crew. 1st Lt. And CP Walter J Wade. He trained with them at MacDill airbase. He flew the first few missions with them in this aircraft, but this particular mission, he was swapped out with CP Thorp to get a more experienced flyer with pilot Arey who was a rookie. He went on the fly 36 missions.
06. November 2023 access_time 4:17
My grandfather is Lawrence Rosenberger. He was the ball turret gunner when the plane was shot down. I discovered this page while helping my son and nephew research information for a project. Thank you!