zoom_in
Production-block:
B-17F-55-BO: 42-29467 to 42-29531
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 305th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 422nd Bomb Squadron
- RCL: JJ-Z
History of
B-17 42-29531
Delivered Cheyenne 3/1/43; Salina 11/1/43; Morrison 8/3/43; Assigned 422BS/305BG Chelveston 8/4/43; Lost St Nazaire 29/5/43. Pilot, Marshall Peterson, POW. Co-pilot, Harold E. Bentz. Navigator, Larry Mandleberg, POW. Bombardier, Frank R. Perrica, Evaded. Flight engineer/top turret gunner, Hilton Hilliard, POW. Radio Operator, Joseph James Freeborn, POW. Ball turret gunner, Pete Milasius, Evaded. Waist gunner, George P Smith, POW.Tail gunner, Sal Tafolya, Evaded. Waist gunner, Percy C Matthews, Missing in Action. Flak hit, aircraft broke in two, crashed Saint-Bihy, 12 miles SW of St Brieuc, Fr. No MACR.
Last updated: 9. May 2021
B-17 42-29531 Details
Artwork by Steven A. Ingraham
B-17 42-29531 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Marshall R. Peterson | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Harold Edward Bentz | EVD | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Laurence F. Mandelberg | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Frank R. Perrica | EVD | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Hilton G. Hilliard | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Joseph James Freeborn | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Peter P. Milasius | EVD | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Percy Clayton Mathews | MIA | MIA for 75 years. Remains found and identified. |
| WG | T/SGT | George P. Smith | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Salvadore S. Tafoya | EVD | - |
23. October 2018 access_time 14:07
Just stumbled across this information I am the son of T/Sgt. Joseph James Freeborn (his name is wrong here) and was delighted to obtain this information. He was taken POW after the B-17 crashed and was imprisoned for almost 2 years. He died October 1985 and lived a good life. He married his wartime sweetheart who he met in St. Louis while he was in Tech School at Scott Airfield, IL. He raised 4 children and left a great legacy to his family. He was a member of the greatest generation.
23. October 2018 access_time 14:29
Thank you! I have corrected the name.
25. January 2019 access_time 21:47
Gentlemen… This is truly amazing. My father was the left waist-gunner aboard the “Queen of the Skies” Serial No. 42-29531 when it was shot down over Saint Nazaire France on May 29, 1943. His name was George P. Smith. He rarely said anything about the war, or his imprisonment at Stalag 17B. He passed away in 1993. Hilton Hilliard’s, the top turret-gunner that bailed out with passed away two years later in 1985. Neither one kept in touch with each other. As a result, I’ve had to find out what the hell happened myself. I’m so grateful that this website is still active. Thanks… G.P.Smith
26. January 2019 access_time 6:49
There is a typo in my original comment. My father George P. Smith passed away in 1983, not 1993. He was only 62. Tough as nails but always fair, I stuck to him like glue when I was a kid. The picture of his plane, “Queen of the Skies” is treasure I’ll pass on to rest of our family. If you check out my website (wrongtree.org) there’s pencil sketch of my father when he was POW at Stalag 17B. Go to the top of the first page and click on MORE, then click on selected stories. Scroll down to “Top Secret Touchdown”. Rhoden was the POW artist. There’s also a photo of Hilton Hilliard, the ball turret gunner my father bailed-out with on May 29, 1943, as well as Hilton’s letter after the war thanking members of the French underground for helping them try to escape. Unfortunately, they were captured trying to cross the Spanish border by the Gestapo. Cheers…G.P.Smith
05. November 2021 access_time 16:05
Thanks for putting this all of this information together in one place. It clears up a lot of unanswered questions and mistaken assumptions on my part. FYI – I no longer have a website but can be contacted by email. I’m hoping to purchase two (2) of Mr. Ingraham’s prints. One for my brother and myself. Cheers.
24. January 2020 access_time 15:34
After doing some research, I believe this B-17 serial number 42-29531 JJ-Z is the B-17 in William Wyler’s documentary about the Memphis Belle that you can see flipping over on it’s back and slowly spinning down out of the picture. You can see at least 2 crew members coming out of the plane as it’s spinning down. If you look closely you can see the JJ-Z on the side of the fuselage. If you watch the rest of Wyler’s documentary you will see several B-17’s taking off with the JJ on the side of the fuselage. This means that these aircraft were from the 305th BG and 422nd BS. This all matches this B-17. I am pretty sure this is the B-17 that is seen going inverted and slowly spinning towards the earth as the crew members can be seen coming out of the airplane.
24. January 2020 access_time 16:53
Hello Steve,
thank you for your research. I watched that scene again and it is also in the trailer of HBO’s “The Cold Blue”:
https://youtu.be/Tmwm4VPW7RY?t=28
Screenshot added now.
And I believe, you are right.
I have always asked me, which B-17 it was.
Thank you for you help!
24. January 2020 access_time 20:05
Very glad we could capture this information for the families and for history. Thanks.
25. January 2020 access_time 14:18
Thank you for your support! The fate of Percy Clayton Mathews, who was MIA, is cleared. His remains were identified.
24. January 2020 access_time 18:21
One other comment on this B-17 being the one shot down in the William Wyler documentary “The Memphis Belle a Story of a Flying Fortress”, the records show that He flew on 5 missions. His last mission was on 29 May 1943 on the mission to St. Nazaire. This is the same mission that 42-29531 was lost. If you watch “Cold Blue” where the actual film is enhanced you can see the JJ-Z on the side of the plane going down.
25. January 2020 access_time 14:16
I can’t watch Cold Blue on HBO because it is only available in the US. I am here in Germany.
13. February 2020 access_time 19:00
I got the ball rolling on trying to discover the identity of the this B-17. I thought it was taken between certain dates that the Memphis Belle flew in combat. With the Might Eight War Diary, a website and help on B-17 face book pages I thought I found it. With the help Steven A Ingraham we figured it out to be 42-29531 which was lost after the Belle complete her 25th mission.
13. February 2020 access_time 19:04
Thank you very much to your both! A mystery is solved after so many years.
07. August 2020 access_time 16:57
I just completed an oil painting in memory of JJ-Z. I would like to share it with this wedsite since you were so helpful in gaining information on this B-17. Please let me know how I can get a photo to you. Thanks.
07. August 2020 access_time 17:19
Hello Steve,
please send me your oil painting to: info@b17flyingfortress.de or replying my email.
I would be very happy to add your work to the web site.
Cheers
Jing
31. March 2021 access_time 18:48
Hello, I really like this painting of the 305th bomber. This is my favorite bomb group and would like to commission the artist to paint my favorite early 305th B-17F. Can Mr. Ingraham contact me through my email please?
Thank you,
William Horner
31. March 2021 access_time 20:07
Hello William,
I have contacte Mr. Ingraham and redirected your email address to him.
Cheers
Jing
23. August 2021 access_time 1:34
I have been doing some research on a B-17 that went down on May 29,1943 but was not the “Memphis Belle”. It was called “Barrel House Bessie from Basin Street” I do not know the tail number. Any info would be helpful. I am the Historian from American Legion Post 189 Sebastian, FL.
Thank you
23. August 2021 access_time 7:48
Hello Robert, look here:
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-29742-barrel-house-bessie/