Production-block:
B-17G-65-BO: 43-37509 to 43-37673
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 390th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 571st Bomb Squadron
- RCL: FC-O
MACR: 13139
History of
B-17 43-37564 / Little Moron
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/44; Kearney 10/5/44; Grenier 26/5/44; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-O] Framlingham 27/5/44; Missing in Action Berlin 18/3/45 with Gene Freeman, Merrill Hire, John Rapp, Sam Greenleaf, Leon Gaylord, Ed Hughes, Ray Fry, Joe Ostler, Gene Burlingame (9 Prisoner of War); flak hit on #1 engine, crashed Dreilingen, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 13139. LITTLE MORON.
Last updated: 16. May 2017
23. June 2021 access_time 0:55
My cousin, Merrill Hire Jr. was the co-pilot on this particular B-17. We don’t know much about his crash or his time spent as a POW. Any information would be appreciated.
Oddly enough, Merrill later died in a plane crash in Costa Rica in 1960 in the jungle. The plane, and the remains of Merrill and his passengers was not found until 1980.
23. June 2021 access_time 8:12
Hello Jerome,
I have a copy of the MACR files, which contains information about the last mission. Do you want to have a copy?
Cheers
Jing