B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-30358 / Phartzac

History of
B-17 42-30358 / Phartzac

Delivered Cheyenne 23/5/43; Gr Isle 3/6/43; Dow Fd 27/6/43; Assigned 350BS/100BG [LN-X] Thorpe Abbotts 4/7/43; Missing in Action Bremen 8/10/43 with Frank Meadows, Co-pilot: Lloyd Evans, Navigator: Frank Bush, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Jackson, Radio Operator: Bob Wussow, Ball turret gunner: Rich Agor, Waist gunner: Dexter Pate,Tail gunner: Vince Sapone (8 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Bill Hubbard, Waist gunner: Jim Ward{Wounded in Action} (2 Prisoner of War); flak hit bombs dropping from above, the explosions caused severe damage, crashed on road to Ottersburg, E of Bremen; Missing Air Crew Report 947. PHARTZAC.

Last updated: 27. January 2024

B-17 42-30358 / Phartzac Details

Statement by Staff Sergeant James F. Ward, Waist Gunner of the B-17 reads as follows:

The reason I cannot answer most of the questions is because our plane had two bombs in the plane, that failed to released, which were hit with flak, which caused the plane exploded. I being lucky enough to get our alive with quite a few injuries that caused me to go unconscious  after I pulled my rip cord there fore I didn’t see anyone form the crew.

Source: MACR 947