B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-102526

History of
B-17 42-102526

Delivered Cheyenne 11/3/44; Kearney 29/3/44; Dow Fd 4/4/44; Assigned: 96BG Snetterton 8/4/44; Transferred: 571BS/390BG [FC-N] Framlingham 9/4/44; MIA {4m} Freidrichahafen 29/4/44 Pilot: Bob Rayburn, Co-Pilot: Henry Crowley, Navigator: Murray Jacob, Bombardier: Chas Heltsley, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Dave Thomas, Radio Operator: Bob O’Hara, Ball Turret Gunner: Bill Cusack, Waist Gunner: Dan Chermak, Waist Gunner: Dick Matanle, Tail Gunner: Woodrow Johnson (10POW); flak, one engine smoking, crashed a mile SE of Bitterfeld, 28 miles SW of Potsdam, Germany. MACR 4245.

Last updated: 20. November 2021

B-17 42-102526 Details

Extract from S-2 Mission Report Regarding B-17G 42-102526

At 1140 hours near 5200 N – 1350 E at 24,000 feet, A/C 526, 390th Group observed to peel off to right and out of formation with one engine smoking, and began to dive. A/C apparently hit by flak over Berlin. Seven men observed to jump 3 apparently delayed jumps only 4 chutes seen to open. A/C 526 last seen heading down disappearing in clouds, tops of which, reported to have been at about 6000 feet at about 1145 hours near 5120 N – 1311 E. One crew reported that at 1141 hours A/C 526 called that he was hitting the silk.

Source: MACR 4245

B-17 42-102526 Crew