B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31527 / Brown Nose

History of
B-17 42-31527 / Brown Nose

Delivered Denver 16/11/43; Kearney 28/11/43; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 29/12/43; Missing in Action Budapest 14/6/44 with Chas Britton, Co-pilot: Chas White, Navigator: John Cooke, Ball turret gunner: Walt Ramsey, Waist gunner: Ed Jacobs (5 evaded capture); Bombardier: Grethel Fields, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Witt Bencal, Radio Operator: Joe Leinart, Waist gunner: Gordon Kiefer,Tail gunner: Tim O’Brien (5 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft hit #2, fire spread and ship exploded, crashed Banja Luka, Yugo; 10 chutes seen, but no injuries; Missing Air Crew Report 6015. BROWN NOSE.

Last updated: 30. October 2020

B-17 42-31527 / Brown Nose Details

Eyewitness Statements to the loss of B-17G #42-31527 / Brown Nose

T/Sgt. Roland J. Descoteau, radio gunner on B-17 No. 006, 96th Squadron which was flying in the second wave, first squadron, second element, first plane.

At approximately 1209 hours, B-17 No. 527 was attacked by several twin engine fighters which set number two engine afire. It began to lag fast but lost little altitude. The flames spread to the rest of the plane and all ten men bailed out. The aircraft peeled off to the left, was losing altitude fast and after completing nearly a 360 deg turn, it went into a spin and blew up at approximately 5000 feet. A fire was started on the ground by the crash. The approximately location was 45 deg 00 min North 17 deg 25 min East.

T/Sgt. Roland J. Descoteau

S/Sgt. Lowell M. Greer, Left Waist Gunner on B-17 No. 006, 96th Squadron which was flying in the second wave, first squadron, second element, lead plane.

At approximately 1209 hours, at 14000 feet, Plane No. 527 was attacked by ten to twelfe Ju-88’s and set number two engine afire. Plane started to lag and lost altitude, fairly fast, during which time all ten men bailed out. Fire spread rapidly, plance went into a spiral to the left and the left wing came off, after which the aircraft exploded in the air while at 4 or 5 thousand feet. I took with a K-20 camera, as follows:

One as plane was first lagging and afire.
Two as men ware bailing out.
One as aircraft exploded.

S/Sgt. Lowell M. Greer

S/Sgt. Donald G. Gardner, Tail Gunner on B-17 No. 205, 429th Bomb Squadron which was flying in the first wave, second squadron, first element, third plane.

At approximately 1205 hours, at 14000 feet, B-17 No. 527 was flying behind us when eleven Me-410’s made a front attack on our squadron. The first time I noticed No. 527 was when it feathered No. 1 engine. Smoke started coming out from the trailing end of the wing, nead the elevators. About one minute later flames started coming out of the wing. It flew around another minute before anyone bailed out. The tail gunner was the first out, then other nine jumped and all the chutes opened. The plane made a left turn, breaking into more flames and finally going into a dive, then it blew up. Pieces were still burning when it hit the ground. This was at approximately 45 deg 15 min North 17 deg 12 min East.

S/Sgt. Donald G. Gardner

S/Sgt. James C. Adams, Lower Turret Gunner on B-17 No. 205, 429th Bomb Squadron which was flying in the first wave, second squadron, first element, third plane.

At approximately 1205 hours, at 14000 feet B-17 No. 527 was flying behind our ship and we were attacked y eleven Me-410’s from 11 o’clock and I saw No. 527 fall back and out to our left. A hole was blown in their left wing and in about two minutes the wing burst into flame, the tail gunner bailed out and in a few seconds the rest of the crew followed, one after another.

Ten chutes were counted by myself and the tail gunner on out plane. The plane then went into a bank and burst into flames, then blew up. This was approximately 45 deg 15 min North 17 deg 12 min East.

S/Sgt. James C. Adams

Sgt. Joseph A. Jordan, Tail Gunner on B-17 No. 7066, 429th Squadron, which was flying in the first wave, first squadron, second element, second plane.

At approximately 1208 hours, 13000 feet, B-17 No. 527 was on fire, in number two engine, and it was dropping back and losing a little altitude. fire spread over the left wing and all ten chutes came out as the fire began to spread. The plane then peeled off, to the left, and lost altitude finally it exploded. Both wings came off and the fuselage, which was on fire, hit the ground. This was at approximately 45 deg 06 min North 17 deg 20 min East.

Sgt. Joseph A. Jordan

Source: MACR 6015

B-17 42-31527 / Brown Nose Crew