B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-29483 / Dee Zip Zip

B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies 42-29483 / Dee Zip Zip

Manufacturer:
Boeing

MACR: 240 & 386

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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

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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.

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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
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

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