Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-25-BO: 41-24540 to 41-24584 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 91st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 323rd Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | OR-P |
| MACR | 3573 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (01 May 1943) |
History of
B-17 41-24547 / Vertigo
Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-P] Bangor 10/9/42; Bassingbourn 11/10/42; Missing in Action 9+m St Nazaire 1/5/43 with Bob Rand, Navigator: Don Sternglanz, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clarry King, Waist gunner: Thad Kusowski,Tail gunner: Dick Shurnard (5 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Major Mo Rosener (94BG CO-wia), Bombardier: Walt Wawrzynek, Radio Operator: Dave Hatch, Ball turret gunner: Jim Farrar, Waist gunner: Alvar Platt (5 Prisoner of War); several enemy aircraft attacked, KO’d #2 and set cockpit ablaze, ditched Channel about four miles of Brest and quickly sank. Missing Air Crew Report 3573. VERTIGO.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 41-24547 / Vertigo Details
There are different statements [1, 2, 3] about the crash site of #41-24547 / Vertigo. Many sources name the crash site in the English Channel/Atlantic between 3 km and 7 km west of Porspoder, France. Waters called ‘Banc du Four’.
Another source (link), after its own research, has suggested that #41-24547 / Vertigo is about 20 km east of Bréhat Island and 25 km north of Saint Brieuc, France. The coordinates are: 48°47’30 “N 2°45’0 “W. The surviving crew members were then taken by fishing boat to Saint Malo, France.
The crew on the picture
Front row (left to right): S/Sgt. Thaddeus F. Kusowski (KIA); S/Sgt. Richard E. Shumard (KIA); S/Sgt. James B. Farrar (POW); S/Sgt. Walter C. Wawrzynek (POW); S/Sgt. Alvar B. Platt (POW)
B-17 41-24547 / Vertigo Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Robert D. Rand | KIA | - |
| CP | MAJ | Maurice Rosener | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Donald M. Sternglanz | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Clarence V. King | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | David B. Hatch | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | James B. Farrar | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Alver B. Platt | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Thaddeus F. Kusowski | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Richard E. Shumard | KIA | - |
| TOG | S/SGT | Walter C. Wawrzynek | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 01 May 2022
21. December 2025 access_time 3:25
This aircraft does not give a complete view of the upper nose area to determine if the center gun mount modification is to a plain nose cone or one with “dimpled” upper sockets . Thus bringing the conflicting block -20 and block-30 claims of deletion at least, into the realm of more investigation and understanding being prudent.