B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-102509 / The Liberty Run

History of
B-17 42-102509 / The Liberty Run

Delivered Cheyenne 10/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 6/4/44; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-A] Bassingbourn 22/4/44; Missing in Action Leipzig 20/7/44 with Art Hultin, Co-pilot: Capt Bill Martin, Navigator: Bob Hart, Bombardier: Maurice Bonomo, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Woodrow Roberts, Radio Operator: Homer Dumont, Ball turret gunner: Bob Meyers, obs-Capt Art Koscinsli, Waist gunner: Frank Franklin,Tail gunner: John Paget (10 Prisoner of War); flak set ship abaze, crashed Laudenbach, S of Aschaffenberg, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 7274. THE LIBERTY RUN.

Last updated: 5. June 2022

B-17 42-102509 / The Liberty Run Details

The photo shows the B-17 #42-102509 / The Liberty Run with pilot Lt. William T. Hanna at the controls. It is believe, that the date of the photo is D-Day, 06 June 1944.

Eyewitness Statements to the loss of B-17G 42-102509

Aircraft B-17G, 42-102509 was damaged by flak at the target Leipzig, Germany. After leaving the target, the status of the aircraft was learned by radio calls from Captain Bill H. Martin.

He reported having a seriously wounded man aboard, that he was wounded himself and requested that lead be stepped up.

Then he reported a fire in his wing and requested the aircraft on his wing to come in and if possible report the extent of the fire.

Next he called advising that he was moving out to the side of the formation, to be clear in case of an explosion. Also requested advise and was told to use his own judgement.

The last report from aircraft 42-102509 was that the order had been given to bail out. The position at this point was approximately 51 degrees 10 minutes North and 10 degrees 35 minutes East.

Lt. Col. Lewis P. Ensign
91st Bomb Group

Source: MACR 7274