B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-107024

History of
B-17 42-107024

Delivered Tulsa 31/1/44; Gr Island 25/2/44; Presque Is 2/3/44; Assigned 350BS/100BG [LN-B] Thorpe Abbotts 6/3/44; Missing in Action Sottevast 28/4/44 with Col Bob Kelly[Gp CO], Co-pilot: Capt Bill Lakin, Navigator: Capt Joe Payne, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Brown, Waist gunner: John Spiker, obs-T/Sgt Delbert Barnhart{Fighter Gp} (6 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Maurice Cain, Radio Operator: Leo Cannon, Ball turret gunner: Albt Freitas,Tail gunner: Lt Herb Alf (5 Prisoner of War); two flak hits in nose, crashed Croix Jacob, S of Cherbourg, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 4234.

Last updated: 5. February 2024

B-17 42-107024 Details

Aircraft #024 was hit by two bursts of flak, one near cockpit and one near tail. Cockpit burst into flames. Plane went into vertical dive; top turret came off as plane entered clouds and it seemed to disintegrate without exploding. One chute seen. Plane hit at 1019 hours, one minute after bombs away, near 49°33’N – 01°30’W.

Lt. Harris, Lt. Noordyk, Lt. Woldt.

Source: MACR 4243

B-17 42-107024 Crew