Production-block:
B-17F-75-DL: 42-3504 to 42-3563
B-17G-5-DL: 42-3504 to 42-3563
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 96th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 338th Bomb Squadron
- 339th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: QJ-L, BX-L
MACR: 2379
History of
B-17 42-3552 / The Flyin’ Ginny
Delivered Denver 29/7/43; Grand Island 10/8/43; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-L] Snetterton 1/9/43; 338BS [BX-L] Missing in Action Frankfurt 29/1/44 with Claude Farris, Co-pilot: Chas Ray, Navigator: Marcus Waters, Bombardier: Dave Helsabeck, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Art Siciliano, Radio Operator: Walt Garber, Ball turret gunner: Harry Lindsey, Waist gunner: Elmer Cowen, Waist gunner: Bob Schultz,Tail gunner: Harry Wells (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, nose caught fire, crashed on Leissberg, near Gudesweiler, six miles NW of St Wendel, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2379. THE FLYIN’ GINNY.
Last updated: 24. May 2020
B-17 42-3552 / The Flyin’ Ginny Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Claude LeRoy Farris, Jr. | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Charles Payton Ray | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Marcus Varnon McWaters | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | David Kemper Helsabeck | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Arthur Frank Siciliano | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Walter Thomas Garber | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Harold Eugene Lindsey | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Elmer John Cowen | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Robert Raymond Schultz | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Harold Fletscher Wells | POW | - |
20. May 2019 access_time 17:57
Claude Farris, pilot, was my dad. Was a prisoner of war for 1 1/2 years
19. September 2019 access_time 4:38
Art Siciliano was my uncle,great guy lot of crazy stories about being a P.O.W.
23. May 2020 access_time 23:33
Heard many stories on your uncle from Harold Lindsey the Ball Turret Gunner
20. February 2020 access_time 12:18
Marcus McWaters was my grandfather. Good to see comments from the Farris and Siciliano families.
23. May 2020 access_time 23:32
I was good friends with the Bomb Turret Gunner Harold Eugene Lindsey of Mt. Sterling, Ohio
21. May 2020 access_time 4:20
My grandfather told me about the crash it happend 3 miles from my home.
24. May 2020 access_time 11:36
Hello Leon,
the crash location/town “Leissberg” is correct? Can you confirm?
Cheers
Jing
21. May 2020 access_time 4:53
Here is a picture of the crew:
https://ibb.co/sm08xhn