| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-27-BO: 41-24585 to 41-24639 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 305th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 336th Bomb Squadron, 366th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | KY-D |
| MACR | 15443 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (26 February 1943) |
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History of
B-17 41-24604 / Arkie
Assigned 366BS/305BG [KY-D] Presque Is 19/10/42; Grafton Underwood 25/10/42; forced landing base Pilot: Sydney Smith 26/1/42; on 27/1/43 battle damage w/Lyle M. Adams, 2POW (bailed) 8RTD; MIA Wilhelmshafen 26/2/43 w/Capt Everett Tribbett, Co-Pilot: Harry Reardon, Navigator: Gene Valhala, Bombardier: Walt Ewing, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Carroll Johns, Radio Operator: Bernie Saltz, Ball Turret Gunner: Bill Ford, Waist Gunner: Alby Schlosser, Tail Gunner: Darrell Coats, passengers-Lts Arnold Mercier, Julius Dorfman (12POW); Enemy aircraft, crashed Hookseil, 10 miles N of Wilhelmshafen, Germany. MACR 15443. ARKIE.
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B-17 41-24604 / Arkie Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | CPT | Everett E. Tribbett | POW | - |
| CP | 1LT | Harry F. Reardon | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Eugene H. Vanhala | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Walter C. Ewing | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Oliver Moore | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Carroll S. Johns | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Bernard Saltz | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | William A. Ford | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Albert Schlosser | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Darrel W. Coats | POW | - |
| OBS | 2LT | Arnold H. Mercier | POW | - |
| OBS | 2LT | Julius Dorfman | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 25 May 2018
29. April 2019 access_time 2:05
Darrell W Coats appears to be an identical twin of my oldest son born on Dec 16 1979. If possible I would like to know where he came from and see an additional photo of him. He returned to duty on July 4 1945 after being held at stalag 17 in Austria. TG B17F. 41-24604 shot down Feb 26 1943. His original crew photo is with the Madame Betterfly B17F 41-24624 however he was not listed in that aircrafts MACR when it was brought down by flak. Thank you for any information or direction you may be able to provide.
29. April 2019 access_time 22:43
I would like to know about Darrell W Coats the tail gunner on the Arkie 41-24604. Shot down Feb 26 1943. Service number listed as 6566436. POW RTD July 4 1945. Any photos of him or information about him would be greatly appreciated.
30. April 2019 access_time 8:54
Hello Berry,
I only found a photo of him on fold3.com with B-17 Madame Butterfly in background:
https://www.fold3.com/image/161235344
This is maybe the photo, which you mentioned.
11. August 2020 access_time 20:36
Good pages! Thanks!
I would like to know more about 2.Lt Eugene H. Vanhala. It looks that he was born in 1919 and his relatives (or he) come from Finland. All info is well come.
02. October 2023 access_time 19:29
I’m his great grandson, There are some scans of some original documents in a binder at my parent’s house I made as a kid for a project and my grandparents have original pictures, correspondence while in POW camps, etc. If you are still looking for info I may be able to get you some.
11. November 2023 access_time 19:57
Hi Joshua, I just came back from a vintage market where I purchased three letters that were written from Lt. E.H. Vanhala to his parents. They appear to have been written while he was in training. One is written in Finish, I believe. I found your post while trying to learn more about him. If your family would like the letters returned, please let me know and I will be happy to send them along.
29. November 2023 access_time 16:26
Yes, please email me at joshvw00@gmail.com and I’ll try and organize with my grandfather who keeps most of the records.
02. October 2023 access_time 19:37
If you’re still around on here or get email notified and still want some info I can ask my parents and grandparents to pull the stuff out or respond cause they know more than me.
18. October 2023 access_time 12:59
Yes, I like to get more info. You can use my email: parahist (at) gmail.com