zoom_in
Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17G-35-DL: 42-106984 to 42-107233
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 385th Bomb Group
- 452nd Bomb Group
- RCL: H
History of
B-17 42-107037
Delivered Tulsa 3/2/44; Dow Fd 16/3/44; Assigned 385BG Gt Ashfield 13/3/44; transferred 452BG Deopham Green [ -H] 14/3/44; suffered battle damaged and crash landed near Caister, Norfolk, with McKenzie; Salvaged 11/4/44.
Last updated: 4. July 2020
B-17 42-107037 Details
An Eight Army Air Force Bomber Station, England — The Eight Air Force Flying Fortress ‘Panting Stork’ came home from a precision bombing attack on an aircraft assembly plant in Posen, Poland, with three of its four motors completely out of order, a wounded waist gunner, and its navigation and radio equipment blown apart by enemy aircraft figther action.
After the Fort, piloted by 2nd Lt. William L. McKennzie … had just dropped its bombs on an important target, six Messerschmitts swooped in on it from the rear, lobbing balls of fire from their rocket guns. At the dame time, fifteen to twenty Focke Wulfs started to attack from the nose, firing their deadly 20mm cannon. The plane was caught from front to rear by the cross fire.
A 20mm shell exploded in the waist, peppering the right waist gunner with chunks of ragged shrapnel in both legs. Although wounded, he remained at his guns while the Navigator, 2nd Lt. Robert Millhouse … applied First Aid.
Two engines, on the right side of the ship, were hit by the 20mm shells and the third engine, on the other side, started to throw oil and sputter. It was starting to go out.
The Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt. Melbourne L. Smith … stated that they left the formation and flew back, hedge-hopping over Germany.
While only about 40 feet above the ground, they flew over a German army camp.
“Those soldiers went crazy when they saw us”, recalled the Bombardier, 2nd Lt. Delmar P. Luzadder.
The Germans used every thing that they could fire against the ship, machine guns, flak, pistols, rifles. They scrampled madly up streets, ducked into buildings, and dive under parked automobiles.
“The plane was so low”, said the Radio Operator, S/Sgt. Almon B. Terry. “Some of the Germans were actually throwing stones at us. When they did that, our pilot McKenzie started to chant over the interphone systeme “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me”.
The ship’s guns were blazing away, shooting at every military installation in sight, warehouses, repair shops, supply yards. It was a gunner’s holiday.
While out over the North Sea, the third engine went out, fifteen miles from England, and the crew started to toss every thing that was not welded to the ship out of the windows in order to gain altitude. Flak suits, guns, ammunition, clothing, dropped down into the sea.
The ship crash landed at a base in England. All of its crew walked away from the ship without a scratch. The wounded gunner was rushed off in an ambulance.
Other crew members were: Sgt. Daniel J. Feadino, RWG (WIA), Sgt. Jack W. Brown, LWG, S/Sgt. Byron W. Barthelemy, BTG and Sgt. Benjamin A. Chada, TG.
Source: Dan Fiadino, Son of Sgt. Daniel J. Feadino
B-17 42-107037 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | William L. McKennzie | RTD | - |
| CP | 2LT | Melbourne L. Smith | RTD | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Robert Millhouse | RTD | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Delmar P. Luzadder | RTD | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Byron W. Barthelemy | RTD | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Almon B. Terry | RTD | - |
| BT | SGT | Jack W. Brown | RTD | - |
| WG | SGT | Daniel J. Feadino | RTD | WIA |
| TG | SGT | Benjamin A. Chada | RTD | - |
28. June 2019 access_time 19:41
Hi does anyone have any more information on this incident or the crew involved please. My Father lived locally and remembers this crash.
Thanks
Roland
22. July 2019 access_time 11:39
Hi Roland,
I’m not sure whether this will be of much use to you if you, but the Norfolk Heritage Explorer contains a possible entry for this event (HER 27477). This identifies a possible aircraft crash site close to Nova Scotia Farm, to the west of Caister-on-Sea. An aerial photo taken in May of 1944 shows disturbance in the field that is believed to be the result of the recovery of the aircraft.
If your father could confirm that this location corresponds to the area where he recalls the crash occuring it would be great to update the Norfolk Historic Environment Record with this extra detail?
The Norfolk Heritage Explorer can be found here : http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/
A “simple search” for NHER Number 27477 should bring up the relevent entry.
Good luck with your search.
Kind regards,
Ben Barker
17. November 2020 access_time 3:16
oh my! I have looked on and off for years for information on my father’s Air Force career, and this is the first photos and article i have found! Awesome! My father is William Locke McKenzie, the pilot. The only thing I can contribute to this story is that the crash happened on Easter Sunday, and the crew promised each other not to miss an Easter Sunday service to give thanks. Now here is the part you won’t believe. My dad passed away on Easter Sunday, in 1981. Please let me know if you have any other information on this group.
06. February 2023 access_time 3:05
Hi Alan,
Hope this reaches you. My dad was one of the gunners and part of your dads crew. He was wounded in action on that day. Would be great to hear from you.
06. February 2023 access_time 3:17
Dear Alan McKenzie,
My dad was a crew member on the B17. He is in the middle standing up. I would really like to hear from you. My dad told me this story. Can you verify the name of the plane? My dad said it was called the Panting Stork.
06. February 2023 access_time 3:09
Would love to hear from you Alan