B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 41-2663

Delivered Minneapolis 7/3/42; Assigned 435BS then 28BS/19BG Hawaii 5/5/42; damaged by flak, ditched 50 yards offshore south Buna followed by explosion 14/9/42 with Gilbert E. Erb*, Navigator: John Twilley* (wia), Bombardier: Rich Tennant, Assigned Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Sherland Pixley, (4 bailed Returned to Duty); Co-pilot: Chas Watson, ;ettg-Francis Hewitt, Radio Operator: Rich Howell,Tail gunner: Rich Tennant (4 Killed in Action); Ed Schneider,Tail gunner: Billy May (2 Prisoner of War); two bailed* and made it to shore, four bailed, two made POW and two picked up by natives and taken to Aussies, +wg remains were found and later recovered. Written off 31/10/44.