| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-15-VE: 42-97436 to 42-97535 |
| Delievered: | Denver |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 351st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 511th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL: | DS-B |
| MACR: | 7704 |
| German Document: | KU-2615 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (03 August 1944) |
| Missions: | 50 |
History of
B-17 42-97492 / Slow Ball
Delivered Denver 1/12/43; Kearney 16/12/43; Presque Is 30/12/43; Assigned 511BS/351BG [DS-B] Polebrook 14/1/44; Missing in Action {50m} Saarbrucken 3/8/44 with Ralph Brackens*, Co-pilot: Bill Beals, Navigator: Dan Moseley, Bombardier: George Cobb, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Williamson, Radio Operator: Bill Hardesty, Ball turret gunner: Bob Mattice*, Waist gunner: George McCrary,Tail gunner: Jim Atkins (9POW-* both broke leg on landing)); flak KO’d #3, ship went into spin and exploded, crashed between Huettersdorf and Primsweiler, 3 km of Lebach [22 km north-north-west of Saarbrucken], Germany; Missing Air Crew Report 7704. SLOW BALL.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-97492 / Slow Ball Details
I, Thomas R. Sowell, 18039676, was flying as Tail Gunner on Aircraft No. 43-37862 which was in No. 3 Position, High Squadron, Low Box on a mission to Saarbrucken, Germany on 3 August 1944. On the bombing run our formation was attacked by flak and I saw Lt. Brackens’ plane, flying in High Squadron above me, get hit and start to smoke. No. 3 engine was set on fire. He fellout of formation and began to descend. During his descent I saw one (1) parachute come out of the plane. The plane went on down and eventually went out of sight. It seemed me though he was in too steep a dive to be under control. I heard nothing over VHF.
S/Sgt Thomas R. Sowell
I, Leon F. Casto, 15170552 was flying as Tail Gunner on Aircraft No. 43-57571 which was in Lead position, High Squadron, High Box on a mission to Saarbrucken, Germany on 3 August 1944. Just after bombs away I saw that Lt. Brackens, flying on my right, had been hit by flak. I looked and could see flames coming from behind No. 3 engine. He fell to the rear of the formation and began to lose altitude. Just before the plane began to descend I saw one (1) parachute come from it. The pilot then apparently tried to pull the plane back up in formation, but didn’t make it. He kept on descending and then the plane exploded in mid-air just before it went into a cloud bank. I definitely saw burning pieces spread all over the sky after it exploded. I heard nothing over VHF.
S/Sgt Leon W. Casto
Source: MACR 7704
B-17 42-97492 / Slow Ball Crew
| Position | Rank | Name (First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name) | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Ralph S. Brackens | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | William M. Beals | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Daniel W. Mosley | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | George O. Cobb | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | William F. Williamson | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Billy M. Hardesty | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Robert F. Mattice | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | George A. McCrary | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | James O. Atkins | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 05 June 2026
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