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Source:
photos.384thbombgroup.com
Production-block:
B-17G-35-DL: 42-106984 to 42-107233
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 384th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 546th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: BK-T
MACR: 9414
Missions: 55
History of
B-17 42-107057 / Spirit of 96
Delivered Tulsa 8/2/44; Gr Island 19/2/44; Presque Is 5/3/44; Assigned 546BS/384BG [BK-T] Grafton Underwood 11/4/44; Missing in Action Frankfurt 25/9/44 with Noel Plowman, Co-pilot: Larry Ferguson, Navigator: Ed Cheresnik, Bombardier: Carl Hart, Radio Operator: Gordon Maxa (5 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Cameron, Ball turret gunner: Armando Oliva, Waist gunner: Frank Anderson,Tail gunner: Ken Lentz (4 Prisoner of War); flak KO’d tailplane just after bombs away, crashed Bad Soden, W of Frankfurt, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 9414. SPIRIT OF ’96.
Last updated: 29. November 2024
B-17 42-107057 / Spirit of 96 Details
Summary of eye-witness accounts
B-17G 42-107057 was in formation when hit by flan and nosed over. Tail blown off in front of the horizontal stabilizer. Nosed over straight down out of control and was lost in the clouds.
Source: MACR 9414
One of the soldiers from the flak reached the crash site and commented on it, “Look, the tires have air from the US.”
Source: J. Holzhausen
B-17 42-107057 / Spirit of 96 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Noel E. Poleman | KIA | - |
| CP | F/O | Lawrence Winston Ferguson | KIA | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Edward John Cheresnik | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Carl Johnston Hart | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Robert Allen Cameron | POW | - |
| RO | SGT | Gordon Raymond Maxa | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Armando Oliva | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Frank J. Anderson | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Kenneth Malvin Lentz | POW | - |
03. July 2024 access_time 19:08
Hi!
In the case os this B-17, I can help you with this links where de B-17 is going down (Sorry my english, I dont speak englisj very well)
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/42-107057
If you get a email, I can send you aonther photo, a sequence of three photos, that show “Spirit of 96” going down, but I leave you the link where the photo is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1449580609271931
Gretings! Great work, nice web page.
26. November 2024 access_time 2:14
Who can I talk to about spelling my dads name correctly. It is “OLIVA” not “OLIVIA”…they got the Armando part right. I’d like to see more photos… I have some as well that I can share.
29. November 2024 access_time 12:07
Hello Michael,
I have corrected your father’s name. Sorry for mistake.
I would like to see the pictures. Can you send my a copy? My email: info@b17flyingfortress.de
Cheers
Jing