Source:
Sy D.
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-25-BO: 41-24540 to 41-24584 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 2nd Bomb Group, 91st Bomb Group, 97th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 323rd Bomb Squadron, 49th Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 2619 |
| Fate: |
, Failed to return (24 February 1944) |
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.
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
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Harry C. Meyer | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Ralph J. Sneeden | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | John J. McTeague | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Ralph L. Karsh | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Benjamin M. Hughes | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Kinnon W. Taylor | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Edwin D. Jackson | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Lawrence J. Dunn | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Webb J. Digh | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | John B. McMmullin | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 28 March 2024
27. March 2024 access_time 15:39
In the “blue” box above you list my father’s first name as “Leroy”. His correct first name is “Lawrence”. You have listed his name correctly is the Crew section.
28. March 2024 access_time 9:02
Thanks, I have updated his name in the “bluebox” 🙂
27. January 2026 access_time 15:10
My Uncle John B McMullin has his last name incorrectly spelled. (McMmullin) SIC. He was the tail gunner on B17 41-24571. Uncle Jack normally operated the waist gun on that ship but had frozen his neck on previous mission and was mover to the aft tail gun position. Had this not have happened he might have survived as did other crew members. This was his 27th mission with this ship and crew.
Thank you for preserving these pieces of our nations history.
“THE GREATEST GENERATION”