Production-block:
B-17F-5-BO: 41-24390 to 41-24439
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 92nd Bomb Group
- 97th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 414th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 16150
History of
B-17 41-24413 / Birmingham Blitzkrieg II
Assigned 92BG Bangor 14/7/42; transferred 414BS/97BG Polebrook 24/8/42; Maison Blanche 13/11/42; Tafaraoui 22/11/42; Biskra 25/12/42; Missing in Action Bizerte 26/12/42 with Tom Borders, Co-pilot: Fleming Goolsby, Navigator: Walsh, Bombardier: Hoden, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Sread, Eaton, Radio Operator: Elliott, Ball turret gunner: Tyler, Waist gunner: West, Waist gunner: Swedo,Tail gunner: DuPaul (10 Killed in Action); direct flak, exploded, no survivors; Missing Air Crew Report 16150. BIRMINGHAM BLITZKREIG.
Last updated: 14. September 2018
29. April 2025 access_time 21:06
The plane was on the bomb run when it was hit by flak just moments before bomb release. The bombs were armed and the flak hit the bomb bay, so the ship exploded and was completely destroyed over the target. A gunner on a nearby plane saw one of Borders’ engines fly over his wing and almost jumped without a parachute in a hurry before he was stopped by another crewman — he had thought it was an engine from his plane. Among the dead was SSgt Kent R. West, who scored the first kill in a B-17 over Europe on August 17, 1942. He was in the ball turret because SSgt James B. Whitaker, who was supposed to fly, became ill and so West filled in for him.