Production-block:
B-17F-5-BO: 41-24390 to 41-24439
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 301st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 419th Bomb Squadron
Fate:
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History of
B-17 41-24398 / Hitler’s Hearse
Assigned 419BS/301BG Westover 8/7/42; Chelveston 9/8/42; from Bovingdon to Burtonwood on exercise; landing gear failed & crash landed Newmarket 3/10/42; with Clement Bird, Co-pilot: Bob Elking, Navigator: Don Thwaites, Bombardier: Jim Guy, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: E.A. Neumann, Radio Operator: RIch Koch, Ball turret gunner: Chas Foster, Waist gunner: Ken Higgins, Waist gunner: Art Steffans, passengers:- Capt W.P. Bireley, Lt F. Billings, (11 Returned to Duty); Salvaged. HITLER’S HEARSE.
Last updated: 6. January 2018
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06. May 2022 access_time 3:30
My father Don Thwaites was the bombardier. If anyone reading this has any info about the plane or crew please contact me.
01. October 2023 access_time 0:24
Chris,
My dad, Eugene P. Spencer’s B-24 “Hitler’s Hearse” crashed into a ditch near Ankara Turkey on 8/1/43 after the Tidal Wave air raid on Ploesti Romania. He was with the 389th BG which actually bombed Campina Romania. Never knew there was more than one HH.
02. October 2023 access_time 5:31
I did not know about my father Don Thwaites and his crew of Hitlers Hearse until I found it while searching for information. I do have a photo of my father and the crew of Melancholy Baby. 5 of the crew listed on Hitlers Hearse are shown in the photo, CW Byrd ,EH Neumann, JM Connors, KJ Higgins and my father. My father was a member of the oldest B17 crew in the European theater according to a newspaper article from Wenatchee Washington where he grew up. I must assume this was the crew I have a photo of. My father would not talk about his wartime experiences. He spent 24 years in the Air Force and retired as a LT. Colonel in 1964. He died in 2005 at the age of 86. Since then I have learned amazing things about his wartime work from family memorabilia and public records. If anyone has any information related this story please contact me. Thank you Pat Spencer.
19. June 2024 access_time 21:27
I am the grandson of the waist gunner listed here Ken Higgins. I’m a pilot myself and a bit of a history buff. My grandfather passed in 2001. He spoke very fondly of his crew-mates as I remember and had many framed photos of their time spent together both in the air and on the ground. An entire wall of his basement was covered with these framed photos.
Recently some discussion came up between my step-brother and I regarding his service and we’ve been trying to piece some of it together. He also had a framed photo of Melancholy Baby but production block number isn’t visible in the photo. I’d enjoy discussing it and sharing his old photos with those of you who are family members of his former crew. Please feel free to get in touch and perhaps working together we can put together a bit of this amazing story.
21. June 2024 access_time 18:35
Colin Higgins please contact me directly. Regarding your grandfather and my father who flew together christophernthwaites@gmail.com