B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 41-24571 / Indianapolis War Bird

History of
B-17 41-24571 / Indianapolis War Bird

Assigned 323BS/91BG Bangor 14/9/42; West Palm Beach 24/11/42; transferred MTO 97BG Biskra, Alg. 1/43; 49BS/2BG 14/11/3; Massicault, Tun 14/11/43; Missing in Action Steyr, Aus. 24/2/44 with Harry Meyer, Co-pilot: Ralph Sneedon, Navigator: John McTeague, Bombardier: Ralph Karsh, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ben Hughes, Radio Operator: Kinnon Taylor, Waist gunner: Lawrence Dunn (7 Prisoner of War); Ball turret gunner: Edwin Jackson, Waist gunner: Webb Digh,Tail gunner: John McMullin (3KIA, buried in forest near Moosbach, Austria); s/d, no chutes seen, crashed near Hocheck. Missing Air Crew Report 2619. INDIANAPOLIS WAR BIRD.

Last updated: 28. March 2024

B-17 41-24571 / Indianapolis War Bird Details

Statement of S/Sgt. Robert R. Cary, tail gunner on B-17 No. 41-24405, flying in the second wave, first squadron, second element, third plane.

After all the rest of the second Squadron had disappeared, I saw B-17 No. 41-24571 flying below our tail, and slightly to the right. Number three (3) engine was feathered and its tail was all full of holes, almost shredded, and I couldn’t see how it continued to fly. Then its right wing caught fire, and it pulled off to the left. I could see it go off to the left for couple of miles, burning, and I never did see any parachutes coming out of it, although I was able to glance at it only occasionally.

S/Sgt. Robert E. Cary

Statement of S/Sgt. Kenneth C. Cook, right waist gunner on B-17 No. 41-24405, flying in the second wave, first squadron, second element, third plane.

Plane No. 571 was the first plane in the second Squadron to be damaged by enemy fighters, but it was the last to go down. It was flying in its regular position, number two (2) in the second element, when I noticed its number three (3) engine feathered. Then the other planes in the Squadron, started going down. After they had all disappeared, No. 571 came up into a position right under our tail for protection. It still had number three (3) engine feathered. I oouldn’t see what happened to it after that.

S/Sgt. Kenneth C. Cook

Source: MACR 2619

B-17 41-24571 / Indianapolis War Bird Crew