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Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
Boeing B-17E: 41-9011 to 41-9245
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 92nd Bomb Group
- 97th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 327th Bomb Squadron
- 341st Bomb Squadron
MACR: 15218
History of
B-17 41-9018
Assigned 341BS/97BG Polebrook Mar-42; transferred 327BS/92BG Bovingdon Aug-42; Attacked by Lt. Walter Meyer 7./JG26. Lost tail and three engines. Desintegrated over Lannay near the Belgian border. Monument near Mouchin on D955 direction Planard. MACR 15218. 5KIA 3POW 1EVD
Last updated: 4. February 2024
B-17 41-9018 Details
B-17 41-9018, took off from Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, UK at 0900 on a bombing mission over Hellemmes’ railroad installations. They were hit by German AA fire, causing them to drop out of formation and be hounded by nine German Fw-190s. The latter shot off the tail section, sending the plane down. The pilot held on as long as he could to avoid hitting the residential areas, but finally had to bail out. His parachute malfunctioned and he plummeted to his death.
B-17 41-9018 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Francis H. Chorak | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Joseph J. Fracchia | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Grady W. Roper | EVD | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Charles G. Kolodzinski | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | M/SGT | James E. Lane | KIA | - |
| RO | S/SGT | John J. Dolan | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Paul R. Gordon | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Donald E. Buckland | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Malcolm Culpepper | KIA | - |
31. December 2020 access_time 19:43
S/Sgt. Paul Gordon is incorrectly identified as KIA and TT gun.
The correct notation should be WIA-POW and Ball Turret gun. This info. may be confirmed in an article in EndeavorNews.com, Nov. 17, 2007 under title “The man who fell from the sky”. A personal interview by Gordon.
04. February 2024 access_time 9:27
Finally, updated the position and status. Thanks.