B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 43-38473

History of
B-17 43-38473

Delivered Cheyenne 7/8/44; Lincoln 17/8/44; Grenier 2/9/44; Assigned 708BS/447BG Rattlesden 8/9/44; Missing in Action Kassel 30/12/44 with Bruce Bates, Herb Nachman, George Mixon, Bob Cordell, Jim Toler, Bill Lindsey, Bill Wheeler, Clair Palm, Ben Torre (9 Killed in Action); mid air coll, crashed Stürzenhardt (57km SE of Darmstadt; 57km SW of Würzburg), Germany. Missing Air Crew Report 11240.

Last updated: 22. August 2021

B-17 43-38473 Details

B-17 #43-38473 collided with B-17G “Fuddy Duddy” #42-97400 near target on 30 December 1944. Which was believed to be caused by “prop wash”.

Remarks or Eyewitness Statements:

Aircraft #42-97400 and 43-38473 collided at 1502 hours at 5055N-0910E at 26500 feet, in vicinity of I.P. #478 flying in No. 2 position of low section im lead squadron and #400 flying #4 of low section lead squadron. #473 lost altitude and #400 gained altitude at the same time. Reason for this is unknown, but believed prop wash responsible. #400 had fuselage cut into two and went into clouds in uncontrolled spin. Elevators of #473 were sheared off and it, two, disappeared into clouds out of control. No chutes observed from either plane.

Source: MACR 11240

B-17 43-38473 Crew