Production-block:
B-17G-55-BO: 42-102544 to 42-102743
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 452nd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 728th Bomb Squadron
- 729th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: F
History of
B-17 42-102615 / Forbidden Fruit II
Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/44; Kearney 13/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned: 728BS/452BG Deopham Green 30/4/44; 729BS; forced landing RAF Woodbridge Pilot: John Clifford 18/12/44; caught in severe prop wash during assembly to Frankfurt 17/2/45 w/Joe Knoll, went out of control and crashed one mile SW Tibenham A/fd; 6 KIA/3 RTD; Salvaged. 23/2/45. FORBIDDEN FRUIT II.
Last updated: 25. May 2021
27. April 2020 access_time 20:38
John Clifford was my father, and he spoke so proudly of his piloting of the Forbidden Fruit II. He had me watch the movie and TV show “12 O’Clock High” in the 1960’s because he felt it honestly represented his time in the Air Force. I love that I can find his photo with his crew and the actual B-17. He also told me the story of how he limped home with the damaged plane and belly landed safely but without any steering, he took out the men’s latrine with the wing. He also felt very lucky that he was assigned to the Forbidden Fruit I which came home from its last sortis damaged with fatalities, but that he got to pilot the new plane Forbidden Fruit II, which protected him thru his whole bombing assignment with the 452nd BG.
03. February 2024 access_time 22:56
Hi, Catherine! I would love to talk to you. My great-uncle, George Shuler, Jr., was the flight engineer on Capt Clifford’s crew. I have been trying to go through and find some additional information about the Forbidden Fruit II. I have a list of the missions the crew flew together, and have been piecing things together.
27. April 2020 access_time 21:36
I have a military photo of John Clifford I can supply. Don’t know how to upload photos to his Forbidden Fruit II story.
27. April 2020 access_time 22:03
Hello Catherine,
thank you for sharing your father’s story.
I sent you an emai. Just reply and attaching the photo.
Kind regards
Jing