Production-block:
B-17G-25-DL: 42-37989 to 42-38083
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 96th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 413th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 2861
History of
B-17 42-38043
Delivered Cheyenne 23/11/43; Gr Island 4/12/43; Presque Is 10/12/43; Prestwick, UK 17/12/43; ass 413BS/96BG Snetterton 18/12/43; MIA Stuttgart 25/2/44 Pilot: George Smiley{stayed in ship to let crew bale out}, Radio Operator: Ed Fath{chute failed} (2KIA); Co-Pilot: Bob Ketcham, Navigator: Dick Longman, Bombardier: Gordon Williams, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Jack Blacker, Ball Turret Gunner: Bill Thompson, Waist Gunner: Ben Scoville, Waist Gunner: Walt Brocious, Tail Gunner: Bob Haynes (8POW); crashed Sulzbach a.d.Murr, Germany. MACR 2861.
Last updated: 13. February 2022
B-17 42-38043 Details
The pilot remains at the controls until all other crewmembers had bailed out and was killed in the crash at 13:30. S/Sgt. Fath was killed due to parachute failure.
B-17 42-38043 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | George A. Smiley | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Robert H. Ketcham | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Richard T. Longman | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Gordon E. Williams | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Jack Blacker | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Edward H. Fath | KIA | Chute failed |
| BT | S/SGT | Willard B. Thompson | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Benjamin F. Scoville | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Walter L. Brocious | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Robert M Haynes | POW | - |
22. December 2020 access_time 18:27
George Smiley was my Uncle trying to find any pictures of the plane and of the crew..
17. April 2022 access_time 11:44
Hello Sue. This is a copy of the Missing Aircrew Report regarding your Uncle. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/90930452 I haven’t been able to find any photos unfortunately.
20. June 2024 access_time 5:56
My uncle, Ben Scoville, was the waist gunner and he once told me that his harness was hung up, probably due to battle damage, and pilot came back to get him untangled while the co-pilot flew the plane. Uncle Ben was the last one out of the plane, your uncle saved his life. He died late in 2013 at 89 years old.
11. February 2022 access_time 12:57
Crashed at Sulzbach a.d.Murr, northeast of Stuttgart into a wood. Not Crailsheim.
13. February 2022 access_time 9:25
Danke, habe es korrigiert.
Thanks, I have updated the crash site.