Production-block:
B-17G-35-DL: 42-106984 to 42-107233
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 303rd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 358th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: VK-
MACR: 4274
Missions: 1
History of
B-17 42-107200
Delivered Tulsa 20/3/44; Kearney 312/3/44; Grenier 6/4/44; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK- ] Molesworth 23/4/44; Missing in Action Friedrichshafen (1st mission) 24/4/44 with Paul Stewart, Co-pilot: Rudolph Heap, Navigator: Bob Moller, Bombardier: Dario Manze, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Tom Coe, Radio Operator: Drackart Jones, Ball turret gunner: Joe Jasinski (7 Killed in Action); Waist gunner: Ray Cadlolo, Waist gunner: Jim Cast,Tail gunner: Roy Sable (3 Prisoner of War); flak and enemy aircraft severely damaged nose, three bailed then it exploded, crashed Gross-Seeham, 22 miles from Munich/Rosenheim, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 4274.
Last updated: 25. October 2018
B-17 42-107200 Details
The B-17 was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the target area and was badly damaged. It was last seen heading towards Switzerland. 2Lt Paul C. Stewart (P) could not hold the plane in formation and was soon hit by a nose attack by enemy fighters. Sgt Drackart L. Jones (RAD) was observed to have been killed by 20mm gunfire in the radio room and the bomb bay area was on fire.
The surviving crew members attempted to contact the crewmen in the nose and when receiving no reply assumed that these men had been killed. At this time the three surviving crewmen, Sgts James L. Cast (LWG), Raymond H. Cadlolo (RWG) bailed out from the waist hatch and Roy A Sable (TG) jumped from the tail hatch. All three landed safely and were almost immediately captured. All were imprisoned at Stalag 17-B
Before bailing out they had asked Sgt Joseph T. Jasinski (BTG) if he was OK. He replied “Hurry up and jump.” He had spilled his parachute in the waist area and was in the process of buckling on the spare parachute. At this time the B-17 banked sharp left and went into a tight spiral dive. It was assumed that Sgt Jasinski was thrown against the inside wall of the B-17, was pinned there by centrifugal force and was unable to reach the escape hatch. The B-17 crashed near Gross-Seeham 35.5 km SE of Munich, close to the little town of Irschenberg. The 7 KIA crewmen were initially buried in a mass grave in nearby village of Holzolling.
B-17 42-107200 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Paul S. Stewart | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Rudolph H. Heape | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Robert C. Moller | KIA | - |
| BOMB | F/O | Dario J. Manze | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Thomas E. Coe, Jr | KIA | - |
| RO | SGT | Drackart L. Jones | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | Joseph T. Jasinski | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | James L. Cast | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Raymond H. Cadlolo | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Roy A Sable | POW | - |
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