Source:
www.487thbg.org
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-65-BO: 43-37509 to 43-37673 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 487th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 836th Bomb Squadron, 839th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL: | 2G-P, R5-P |
| MACR: | 11559 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (24 December 1944) |
History of
B-17 43-37569
Delivered Cheyenne 30/4/44; Kearney 11/5/44; Grenier 27/5/44; Assigned 836BS/487BG [2G-P] Lavenham 30/5/44; 839BS [R5-P]; Missing in Action Darmstadt 24/12/44 with Ira Ball, Gordon Tomea, Warren Parks, Bob Lull, Duffy Gaudin, John Conery (6 Killed in Action); Harry Sperber, John Broom, Cuno Becker (3 Returned to Duty) enemy aircraft, crashed Hods, Bel. Missing Air Crew Report 11559.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 43-37569 Details
Statement by Lt. Sperber:
This aircraft was hit by four fighters who came out of the sun at about two to three o’clock. The shot away the rudder control, then the tail gunner called in that fifty to sixty enemy aircraft were massing off the tail. As they came in there was an explosion and a smell of gas and smoke in the plane.
#2 engine was on fire, also either #3 or #4. Lt. Sperber yelled into his interphone but he heard no response. He then noticed that the bombardier had taken his mask off and was putting his chute on. Lt. Sperber then put his chute on and moved to the escape hatch. He pulled the handle, which came off and the door remained closed. He kicked the door open and bailed out. The bombardier followed him out.
Extent of injury of 1st Lt. Cuno V. Becker is unknown.
Source: MACR 11559
B-17 43-37569 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name (First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name) | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Ira L. Ball | KIA | - |
| CP | 1LT | Gordon R. Tomea Jr. | KIA | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Harold P. Sperber | RTD | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | John C. Broom | RTD | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Warren H. Parks | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Robert H. Lull | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Duffy J. Gaudin Jr. | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | John J. Conery | KIA | - |
| TG | 1LT | Cuno Becker | WIA | /KIA |
This page was last updated on 27 August 2021
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