Production-block:
B-17G-85-BO: 43-38274 to 43-38473
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 92nd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 325th Bomb Squadron
- 327th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: UX-D, NV-U
MACR: 14222
History of
B-17 43-38369 / Checkerboard Fort
Delivered Cheyenne 26/7/44; Kearney 4/8/44; Dow Fd 10/8/44; Assigned 327BS/92BG [UX-D] Podington 21/8/44; 325BS [NV-U]; Missing in Action Pilsen, Czecho. 25/4/45 with Lew Fisher, Rudy Kochevar, Bill Hesley, Warren Ives, Sam Schwartz, Chris Chrest (6 Killed in Action); Neal Modert, Jerome Weznerowicz (2 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Pilsen; Missing Air Crew Report 14222. CHECKERBOARD FORT.
Last updated: 17. August 2017
02. February 2020 access_time 22:39
A good read on the fate of Checkerboard Fort and especially Bill Hesley. My father. Lt. Ernest Anders Erickson http://markerickson.com/Family_History/Ernest_Erickson/ who served with the 95th Bomb Group and accomplished 35 missions mentioned the many ships he saw go down in smoke and flame, many hit by flak and others downed by M109s. But he came home and dealt with it all. This story is quite different. Worth a read.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/wwii-airman-son-track-down-fathers-last-mission-destroy-nazi-weapon-factory-180973745/?fbclid=IwAR00MXhevlQvCwb9tWkenjxLRbCnsnVW8Q1GYFZjRDvVN4dk9dO1kzP1-64
03. February 2020 access_time 12:12
Hello Mark,
thank you for sharing the information and the link to the web site about William Hesley. A terrible loss. I just have finished to read the book Mid Air Collision by Matthias Schildbach about the two B-17s, which collided on 17 April 1945. This incent is mentions in the artible about William Hesley.
I will reply your email.