| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-50-DL: 44-6251 to 44-6500 |
| Delievered: | Kearney |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 463rd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 773rd Bomb Squadron |
| MACR: | 13052 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (20 March 1945) |
History of
B-17 44-6421
Delivered Kearney 1/8/44; Grenier 9/8/44; Assigned 773BS/463BG Celone 16/8/44; Missing in Action Vienna 20/3/45 with Sam Ark, Co-pilot: Lyle Stegink, Bombardier: Bob Fisher, Waist gunner: Bill Wallace, Waist gunner: Art Van Wyk, Tail gunner: Doug Jackson (6 KIA); Navigator: Dominick Cavaliere, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Dvorak, Radio Operator: Fred Fassnacht, Ball turret gunner: Ray Babcock (4 POW); flak, crashed Lobau/Muhlleiten(Mühlleiten), 14km south-east of Vienna, Austria; Missing Air Crew Report 13052.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 44-6421 Details
Eyewitness Statements
We were on the bomb run when #1 engine of ship #421 started to flame. Their pilot put in into a steep right dive and dove across our tail with the fire growing larger. They went into a thin cloud to our right and I saw the explosion through the mist. Immediately we passed the cloud and I saw the burning parts falling. It looked like two wings, the fuselage and many small parts. I could only see two open chutes and one that had opened but didn’t blossom out. Then another cloud came between and I couldn’t see anymore.
S/Sgt. Floyd W. Musolf
Tail Gunner
Was watching the flak from the tail position when I saw ship #421 flying baker # 6 slip over behind baker #5. As he passed in front of me I noticed his number one engine aflame and gas pouring from all tanks on the left side. He flew behind Baker #5 for a few seconds and then seemed to fall off to the right losing altitude as he went away, the last I saw of them was the ship headed straight down in a spin. I watched for parachutes but didn’t see any. The plane disappeared in the clouds two or three thousand feet below us and that is the last I saw of them.
Sgt. Orville W. Cavins
Tail Gunner
Ship 421 was last seen on ship 780 by tail gunner, Sergeant O. Cavins. Number 1 engine was on fire and ship was losing altitude fast, finally going into a spin. Due to poor visibility ship disappeared 200 to 300 feet below us. No chutes were seen. The ship was at approximately 28,000 feet and a mile or so north of the target.
2Lt. John W. Thompson
Navigator
I believe KIA members of my crew went down with the aircraft when it exploded. I bribed a German guard to show me the report of my crew’s status and found those members which I report KIA as having been found dead. I can read a limited amount of German. The report made no mention of Sgt. Wallace.
F/O Dominic Cavaliere
Navigator
Source: MACR 13052
B-17 44-6421 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name (First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name) | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Samuel J. Ark | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Lyle E. Stegink | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Dominic Cavaliere | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Robert G. Dvorak | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Fred J. Fassnacht | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Arthur Van Wyk | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | William B. Wallace | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Raymond P. Babcock | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Douglas J. Jackson | KIA | - |
| TOG | S/SGT | Robert E. Fisher | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 02 May 2026
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