B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-29594 / Little Butch

History of
B-17 42-29594 / Little Butch

B-17 42-29594 / Little Butch Details

After bombs away at 1345 hours from an altitude of approximately twenty three (23) thousand feet, the formation had just begun a left turn off the target. When aircraft #594 was hit by a direct burst of flak between number two (2) engine and fuselage, it appeared to leave a hole of about two (2) feet square at this point. Pieces of plane flew out. Aircraft immediately started descending at about thirty (30) degree angle and passed out of my range of vision.

1Lt. Leon F. McHill

Pilot of B-17 42-3096

Immediately after bombs away at 1343, from an altitude of 23,400′, we noticed a direct flak hit on Capt. Mayer’s plane #594, which seemed to strike in the radio room and bomb bay. Top partition between life raft compartment and radio hatch was blown off leaving a hole three (3) to four (4) feet square. This explosion was accompanied by a large burst of fire. Immediately after this aircraft #594 went into a twenty to thirty degree dive from the level, straight ahead. We continued in our turn and our view was obscured by our wing.

Capt. Bradfort A Evans

Pilot of B-17 42-29515

2Lt. John C. Goodfelllow

Co-Pilot of B-17 42-29515

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My attention was called to Capt. Mayer’s aircraft #594 by our navigator, Lt. Freeman L. Craig, over the interphone system. I noticed Capt. Mayer’s aircraft in a gradual descent to our right and somewhat below us. His angle of descent increased as he went down. After about ten (10) thousand feet of drop, his aircraft started to break-up. I noticed that the aircraft was on fire. I followed the descent until it struck the water at Naples/Nisida, just off the town of Pozzuale [correct: Pozzuoli or Pezzulo]. I saw no one leave the aircraft and no parachutes were opened.

T/Sgt. J. M. Roche

Ball Turret Gunner on B-17 42-29515

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We were flying directly behind Captain Mayer when his plane started to descend. At this time his plane was descending at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees. When his plane was struck he was at approximately 23,000 feet. I watched this plane go down to about 17,000 feet, during which time I did not take my eyes off aircraft #594, and at what I estimate as an altitude of 17,000 feet, I am sure that I saw six (6) or seven (7) parachutes leave the plane. I did not see any of the chutes open, as the plane, #594 then started to spin and passed out of my range of vision behind us.

2Lt. Orville H. Taylor

Bombardier on B-17 42-30133

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The crew of our aircraft was called on the interphone system, and told to follow an aircraft down. I noticed the aircraft on our right and below us was on fire. This aircraft later was identified as #594. It was in a gradual descent. I watched the aircraft descent for approximately five (5) thousand feet and during this descent I noticed an engine explode and a piece of the wing come off. At this point the aircraft passed from my range of vision. I saw no one leave the aircraft and no parachutes opened during this time.

S/Sgt. Harry S. Barret

Tail Gunner on B-17 42-30133

As we were turning off the target, our navigator, called my attention to aircraft #594. When I looked over, I noticed it was on fire in the radio room or bomb bay. The aircraft continued straight ahead, and then went into a gradual descent, approximately a twenty (20) degree angle. I followed the aircraft, with the binoculars, and at approximately fifteen (15) thousand feet, it seemed to level off; then nose over in a vertical dive at about ten (10) thousand feet, it broke up at the radio compartment and ball turret. The nose spun down as far as I could see it. I saw no one leave the aircraft. I did observe some articles leave the aircraft, but I am certain I saw no parachutes open.

1Lt. William H. Jones

Bombardier on B-17 42-29515

Source: MACR 371

B-17 42-29594 / Little Butch Crew