Production-block:
B-17G-35-DL: 42-106984 to 42-107233
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 385th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 550th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: SG-D
MACR: 4460
History of
B-17 42-107045
Delivered Tulsa 6/2/44; Grenier 28/2/44; Assigned: 550BS/385BG [SG-D] Gt Ashfield 3/3/44; MIA Berlin 29/4/44 Pilot: Len Sexton, Co-Pilot: Gene Koury, Navigator: Bob Pelletier, Bombardier: Sterling Rogers, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Earl Osborne, Radio Operator: Oral Moore, Ball Turret Gunner: Tom Fairchild, Waist Gunner: Henry Dunning, Waist Gunner: Bob Masten, Tail Gunner: John Frangadakis (10POW); Enemy aircraft, crashed Schleibnitz, seven miles NW of Magdeburg, Germany. MACR 4460.
Last updated: 5. December 2020
B-17 42-107045 Details
Only one returning crew reported seeing this aircraft and the reporter is not certain of the few fact he was able to give on the loss of this aircraft. Aircraft 42-107045 was hit in the right wing, by a 20mm shell from an enemy aircraft. The ship immediately left the formation and was last seen going down through the overcast, out of control, in the vicinity of Magdeburg, Germany. No chutes were seen to leave this aircraft. Due to the rapidity and continuity of the attacks from enemy aircraft in this area, details concerning the loss of this aircraft and other aircraft lost by this group on this date, are very few.
B-17 42-107045 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Len Sexton | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Eugene T. Koury | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Robert V. Pelletier | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Sterling H. Rogers | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Earl W. Osborne | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Oral P. Moore | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Thomas J. Fairchild | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Henry L. Dunning, Jr. | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Robert S. Masten | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | John M. Frangadakis | POW | - |
07. January 2022 access_time 15:52
My grandmother and many in the village of Wanzleben (5km away from Schleibnitz) saw this plane burning down from the sky. Everyone said that. I will try to determine the exact place of the crash. Let’s see if I can find out something.
Best regards Tim
23. October 2024 access_time 5:59
Tim — my father was John Frangadakis, tail gunner on that B-17 shot down near Magdeburg. If you are willing to share anything you know about this, I would be grateful.