Production-block:
B-17G-20-BO: 42-31432 to 42-31631
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 447th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 710th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 2892 / KSU/ME/KU: 1013
History of
B-17 42-31563
Delivered Denver 24/11/43; Kearney 7/12/43; Romulus 17/12/43; Presque Is 20/12/43; Assigned: 710BS/447BG Rattlesden 26/12/43; MIA Regenwsburg 25/2/44 Pilot: Ervin Kautt, Co-Pilot: Keith Ratts, Navigator: Ernie Johnson, Bombardier: Chas Nemeth, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Harry Blosser, Radio Operator: Jim Noah, Ball Turret Gunner: Don Filby, Waist Gunner: Scott Eddy, Waist Gunner: Bob Corrie{wia-repatriated early ’45} (9POW); Tail Gunner: Clyde Long (KIA); Enemy aircraft, crashed near Hauenstein, 11 miles ER of Pirmasens, Germany. MACR 2892.
Last updated: 2. November 2021
B-17 42-31563 Details
Aircraft was observed with #4 engine feathered and under attack by enemy aircraft. At 4928N – 0750E at 1520 hours, aircraft went into woods and burst into flames. Eight or nine chutes were observed.
B-17 42-31563 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Erwin T. Kautt | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Keith L. Ratts | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Ernest L. Johnson | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Charles D. Nemeth | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Harold R. Blosser | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | James O. Noack | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Donald R. Filby | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Scott A. Eddy | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Robert A. Corrie | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Clyde R. Long | KIA | - |
26. May 2020 access_time 7:31
My grandfather was waist gunner Bob Corrie on 42-31563. He and his crew were shot down 2/25/44. Any idea where I can find any more details on this? I know he was sent to stalag 17b. This says he was “repatriated early 1945…what does that mean”
26. May 2020 access_time 16:00
Hello Mike,
repatriated early 1945 means in my opinion, by an POW exchange. Because he was wounded.
Cheers
Jing
21. November 2024 access_time 22:38
My grandfather was the bombardier on that crew, Charles Nemeth. He was a POW for about 15 months at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany.
I have a PDF of their missing air crew report. You can find it here: https://www.fold3.com/image/28752405/42-31563-page-1-us-missing-air-crew-reports-macrs-wwii-1942-1947
The report says that Robert Corrie was “severely injured by 20MM shell in shoulder, captured in a matter of hours and spent the first night in a schoolhouse at Landau. Removed to a military barracks guardhouse next day (2-26-44) at Pirmasens, Germany and then to a nearby hospital the same day. Recovered and went to a prison camp and was repatriated early in 1945. Now discharged and living in San Francisco, Calif at 495 Liberty Street.”
Where the report asks, “Did he bail out?” It states: “Yes, although seriously wounded he bailed out by his own efforts.”
It states that he was injured “by a 20mm through the chest”. He says he was “wounded and overcome by shock” and that a “20mm passed through his body between the heart and left collar bone and coming out at the small of his back near his spinal cord.” Another part of the report states that “he was repatriated on the liner Gripsholm”.
You can find more info about their crew here: https://447bg.com/crews-of-the-447th/kautt-e-crew/