zoom_in
Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17G-60-BO: 42-102744 to 42-102978
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 97th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 342nd Bomb Squadron
MACR: 6688 / KSU/ME/KU: 1651
History of
B-17 42-102918 / Idiot’s Delight
Delivered Cheyenne 17/4/44; Hunter 29/4/44; Grenier 14/5/44; Assigned 342BS/97BG Amendola 26/5/44; first 15AF aircraft to land in Russia on shuttle mission after bombing Debrecen marshalling yards 2/6/44; Missing in Action Munich 19/7/44 with 1Lt Marion W Williams, 2lt Robert E Frost, 2lt Albert Lee Thomas, 2Lt Morris Brownstein, T/Sgt Angelo J Cirigliano, Sgt Kenneth H Smith, Sgt Frank J Compton, Sgt Charles Androski, S/Sgt Walter S Bond, Sgt Charles W Ranson, Sgt Herbert R Bauer; flak hit caused fire in bomb bay, aircraft went into a spin and tail broke off, crashed Ascheim; Missing Air Crew Report 6688; IDIOT’S DELIGHT.
Last updated: 3. May 2020
B-17 42-102918 / Idiot’s Delight Details
Statement of Eye-Witnesses
We had gone over the target and dropped our bombs, when I saw an aircraft with #2, engine on fire. The flames extending along the length of the fuselage and at times nearly obscuring the plane from my sight.
The flaming aircraft followed in formation an completed the turn off the target in place maintaining altitude. When the turn was completed the burning aircraft left the formation and I observed at (5) five chutes come out of the aircraft, and the all opened. After the men left aircraft the tail section separated from the aircraft and the fire went out as the aircraft plunged straight down.
T/Sgt. William J. Farrell
We had just dropped our bombs and closed the bomb-bay doors when I saw aircraft #918 in D box formation hit by flak in #2 engine. It started burning but the aircraft stayed in formation until we completed our turn off the target and out of the flak area. I saw (7) seven chutes come out of the aircraft, and they all opened. Finally the tail broke off of the aircraft at the waist gun position and the aircraft started down. That is the last I could see of the aircraft.
S/Sgt. Thomas B. Summers
Tail Gunner
When I say that Lts. Williams and Frost had no possible chance to escape, I mean when I was blown thru the nose they were in pilots seat and were undoubtly hurled into the instrument panel, either fatally unjuring them or rendering them unconciuos.
S/Sgt. Kenneth H. Smith
B-17 42-102918 / Idiot’s Delight Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Marion W. Williams | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Robert E. Frost | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Albert Lee Thomas | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Morris Brownstein | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Kenneth H. Smith | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Angelo J. Cirigliano | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Walter S. Bond | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Charles Androski | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Frank J. Compton | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Charles W. Ranson | KIA | - |
| --- | SGT | Herbert R. Bauer | KIA | Asst. RO |
17. May 2021 access_time 22:36
Sgt Charles Androski was my father
After the war and he was released he went home to his parents and met my mother
They were married in 1946, went on to have 4 children and he became an operating engineer working with cranes . He died in august of 1973 of a massive heart attack at the age of 54
His eldest a son, John served in Vietnam as a cobra gunship pilot and later flew A10s and ultimately F16s in the first gulf war retiring as a Lt. Col.
PROUD OF OUR DAD❤️!!!
18. May 2021 access_time 8:13
Thank you for sharing!
03. June 2021 access_time 1:20
Marion Williams was my great uncle. I’ve always wondered what happened to those he flew with. I’m so happy to see some of his crew members went on to live happy lives. Thank you for sharing!
08. April 2024 access_time 18:01
Sgt Kenneth H Smith was my grandfather. He was captured and held in Stalag Luft IV in Poland until being marched in The March up the Oder River and into and across Germany; he ultimately was liberated near Belgium. He credited his ability to play guitar and a guitar he got from the Red Cross to his survival of the POW camp and the friends he made there. Rather than considering himself lucky, he carried great guilt for having survived when so many did not. He returned home though, married my Grandmother in 1946 – to whom he was married for 55 years until his death of mesothelioma in 2001 at age 77. They raised four children – one of whom himself was career Army – and had nine grandchildren and many great grandchildren. After the war, he worked as a bookkeeper and in medical sales, before becoming a district court clerk from which he retired. He continued to enjoy hunting and fishing, pastimes from his youth that first taught him the skills to man the top turret gun, and played guitar part time in several bands throughout his life.
09. April 2024 access_time 20:33
Tre Fischer, thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story and for his service.
08. April 2024 access_time 16:17
Sgt Kenneth H Smith was my grandfather. He was captured and held in Stalag Luft IV in Poland until being marched in The March up the Oder River and into and across Germany; he ultimately was liberated near Belgium. He credited his ability to play guitar and a guitar he got from the Red Cross to his survival of the POW camp and the friends he made there. Rather than considering himself lucky, he carried great guilt for having survived when so many did not. He returned home though, married my Grandmother in 1946 – to whom he was married for 55 years until his death of mesothelioma in 2001 at age 77. They raised four children – one of whom himself was career Army – and had nine grandchildren and many great grandchildren. After the war, he worked as a bookkeeper and in medical sales, before becoming a district court clerk from which he retired. He continued to enjoy hunting and fishing, pastimes from his youth that first taught him the skills to man the top turret gun, and played guitar part time in several bands throughout his life.