| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-50-BO: 42-102379 to 42-102543 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 91st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 401st Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | LL-A |
| MACR | 7274 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (20 July 1944) |
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.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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
This page was last updated on 05 June 2022
01. December 2020 access_time 21:06
My grandfather was a Mechanic on the grounds crew for “Liberty Run” in WWII.
11. January 2024 access_time 16:11
I’m wondering Sarah if this is the same, or different plane my late uncle (Harry Schnaufer) worked on in WWII. It looks to be in much better shape in these pics than in the ones of my uncle. Gonna try to send a pic but don’t see any provisions for adding one…
11. January 2024 access_time 16:27
Sorry-showing my ignorance in military aircraft! Upon looking more closely at the plane my uncle Russell worked on-it was a B-24 Liberator named “ Liberty Run”, not a B-17.
07. April 2025 access_time 22:32
The Liberty Run was originally assigned to my father, Lt William T Hanna. Do you know if that was the crew your grandfather worked with?
15. December 2021 access_time 18:35
I have a picture of the crew that went down with the Liberty Run listed above but I’m not sure how to add it to this webpage.
16. December 2021 access_time 9:14
Hello Jane, please send me the picture via email to. info@b17flyingfortress.de
20. December 2021 access_time 19:59
Please let me know if you did not receive my photo and I will send again.
Thanks
11. January 2024 access_time 16:18
Scratch Harry-it was my other uncle (Russell Schnaufer) that worked as a mechanic on the Liberty Run plane
02. September 2024 access_time 7:32
my uncle was the scheduling clerk at the base where the Liberty Run was stationed. I have a picture of him and the maintance crew and bomber crew
07. April 2025 access_time 22:34
The Liberty Run 42-102509 was initially assigned to my father, Lt WT Hanna, at Bassingbourn. Is that the crew you have a photo of?