B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-102475

History of
B-17 42-102475

Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Hunter 9/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-J ] Snetterton 1/5/44; Missing in Action Karlsruhe 27/5/44 with Wilbur Brean, Navigator: Bob Egan, Bombardier: John Ellender, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Albt Fancea, Radio Operator: Glen Galbreath, Ball turret gunner: Marion Mangum,Tail gunner: Gene Fava (7 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Bill Hill, Waist gunner: Bill Brinley, Waist gunner: Jack Dark (3 Prisoner of War); mid air coll with 42-102561 (96BG), broke in half; crashed a mile N of Stein, near Pforzheim, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 5162.

Last updated: 13. June 2021

B-17 42-102475 Details

Mid-air-collision with B-17 #42-102561 on 27 May 1944.

Remarks to the incident

In target area just before bombs away, at around 1308, A/C 457, flying #2 Low and A/C 561, a spare who filled in at #6 Low collided. A/C 475 was reported to have broken in half at the ball turret. The bombs came out of the bomb bay and two dinghies were thrown out. The wing came off A/C 561. One chute was reported seen. The A/C appeared to be have been to close for sometime.

Source: MACR 5162

B-17 42-102475 Crew