Production-block:
B-17F-55-BO: 42-29467 to 42-29531
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 99th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 348th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 240 & 386
History of
B-17 42-29483 / Dee Zip Zip
Delivered Cheyenne 22/12/42; Salina 4/1/43; DeRidder 31/1/43; Morrison 4/2/43; Assigned 15Ferry Gp to Atkinson Fd, Br. Guiana where it had taxi accident with Albert Davis, repaired and Assigned 348BS/99BG Navarin 20/2/43; Missing in Action Gerbini 5/7/43 with Al Davis, Perry, Shanks, Huckabee, Fleming, Withrow, Torssell, (6 Prisoner of War); Ewalt, Esposito, Mills, Logan (4 Killed in Action); Perry escapes, ret 9/6/44, Torssell escapes, ret 27/6/43; Huckabee & Fleming, both wia, rescued by US Army. Missing Air Crew Report 240 & 386.
Last updated: 26. June 2020
B-17 42-29483 / Dee Zip Zip Details
Eyewitness account of mission Aircraft No. 42-29483
From the waist gun position of Aircraft No. 42-29482, left wing of the lead element of the 348th Squadron, I observed Aircraft No. 42-29483 losing altitude rapidly and dropping back from the formation. It was the only aircraft left in the element of three, one wing B-17 exploding in mid air as a result of enemy action and the other completely enveloped in flames also from the fire of enemy aircraft, and crashing subsequently to the ground. We were over the target area at the time, approximately 1130H.
Apparently Lt. Davis, pilot of 29483 aided in a attempting to cover his wing man who was on fire and in doing so exposed himself to enemy a/c fire. I saw the aircraft drop down and way back rapidly with enemy pursuit swarming all over him. The top turret gunner was blasing away. The B-17 was still falling with fighters attacking from all angles when I last sighted it. We were all too busy at our own guns for further observation.
S/Sgt. Falvey G. Haynes
348th Sq, 99th Bomb Gp.
B-17 42-29483 / Dee Zip Zip Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Albert E. Davis | POW | - |
| CP | 1LT | Allen J. Ewoldt | KIA | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Herbert O. Perry | POW/ESC | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | Vincent E. Shank | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | John B. Withrow | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | David O. Fleming | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Frank M. Esposito | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Carson E. Logan | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Allan B. Hucksbee | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Robert Mills | KIA | - |
| PHOTO | SGT | Neil E. Torssell | POW/ESC | - |
26. June 2020 access_time 18:40
B-17, 42-29483 was called Dee Zip Zip my father was Neil. E. Torssell not Terssel he was the 11th crew member not normally assigned to the crew as he was an Aerial Photographer, He was captured 5 Jul 43, escaped in 14 September 43 from Camp 59, Servigliano, Italy and repatriated 29 Jun 44.
26. June 2020 access_time 19:09
Thank you Steven!
I have updated the crew list and added eyewitness statement.
And added the name to this B-17.
30. July 2020 access_time 14:34
Dear Steven, my name is Giuseppe, I live in the south east of Sicily. My father told me that he saw an US b-17 shot down near his country house, attacked by Italian and German planes. Remember that one of the pilots who had parachuted had been taken prisoner by the local police. That American soldier, despite being under threat from the policeman’s weapons, took a bar of chocolate from his pocket and gave it to my father who was 8 years old at the time. I saw that your father is dead, sorry for that. Did he ever tell you about how he was taken prisoner? Could it be him who gave chocolate to my father ? Thanks and best regards from Italy
31. July 2020 access_time 14:34
Hello Giuseppe,
I have informed Steven about your comment.
I hope, he will read and reply to your comment.
Kind regards
Jing
22. December 2020 access_time 14:27
Hi Giuseppe, Steven. I am a Sicilian researcher and author
I have information about your plane. Please contact me.
Thanks in advanced.
Salvo
19. March 2021 access_time 12:47
Mr. Fagone, Sorry for not responding sooner, I don’t visit this site very often. Would be interested in finding out what information you have on the aircraft. My Dad was an aerial photographer on the aircraft when it was shot down over Gerbrinni Aerodrome, 5 July 1943. The aircraft was one of 3 that were shot down out of a formation of 27.
30. September 2024 access_time 16:41
In 2021, the USAF sent a team of men to find the wreck of a B-17 and found it five miles north of Randazzo, Sicily. Several crewmen were found dead in the plane by Sicilians soon after the crash. Two of the crewmen were found by Sicilians and hidden until the Allies advanced past Randazzo. So this plane they found was probably “Dee Zip Zip.”