B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 43-38098

History of
B-17 43-38098

Delivered Cheyenne 25/6/44; Kearney 16/7/44; Grenier 3/8/44; Assigned 863BS/493BG [G6-L] Debach 4/8/44; Missing in Action Magdeburg 12/9/44 with Jim Kittleson, Co-pilot: Homer Duncan, Navigator: Max Kettef, Ball turret gunner: Bill Lamkin (4 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Albert Christensen, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Alex Alford, Radio Operator: Calvin Bladen, Waist gunner: Joe Eifried,Tail gunner: Gene Bosnavits (5 Killed in Action); Shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed Hamersleben, NW of Oschersleben, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report 8863.

Last updated: 19. July 2019

B-17 43-38098 Details

B-17#43-38098 hit by enemy aircraft at the R.P. at 1109 hours. #3 engine was hit and on fire. Plane under control and kept formation for 2 minutes. The flames increased and spread until the whole left wing was a mass of flames. Very shortly after this, the plane banked sharply and fell into a spin.