| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-60-BO: 42-29532 to 42-29631 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 303rd Bomb Group, 306th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 367th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | GY- |
| MACR | 15715 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (01 May 1943) |
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History of
B-17 42-29620
Delivered Cheyenne 24/1/43; Salina 9/2/43; Assigned 303BG Molesworth 15/4/43; transferred 367BS/306BG [GY- ] Thurleigh 17/4/43; Missing in Action St Nazaire 1/5/43 with Owen Luby, Co-pilot: Thad Powell, Navigator: Evan Clayton, Bombardier: Louis Wichmer, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Alexander, Radio Operator: Rueben Van Sickle, Ball turret gunner: Tom Oakman, Waist gunner: Elmer Wenzel, Waist gunner: Bob Teegarden,Tail gunner: Ed Zabawa (10 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, ditched Channel off Brest Harbour, Fr Missing Air Crew Report 15715.
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This page was last updated on 06 December 2018
06. December 2018 access_time 5:05
I was named after the tail gunner, Edward Zabawa, killed in action on the Flying Fortress B-17 #42-29620 May 1, 1943. I am trying to gather as much information about him, his crew, his plane that I can especially any photos of him and/or the crew and/or the plane he was on that crash landed into the English Channel. Thank you.
05. February 2023 access_time 21:01
Dear Edward,
I did some digging into this crash and crew. If you reply we can exchange some information.
13. April 2024 access_time 1:02
I am intruiged by this B17s fate. Presumably someone saw it ditch in the sea off of Brest ?
Did no one on board manage to get out ?
We’re any of the crews bodies recovered ?
14. April 2024 access_time 18:26
As far as I was able to piece it together, the aircraft ditched just off the French coastline near Brest. Other crews reported that they saw a raft being inflated and men jumping on board. However, since the aircraft ditched too close to the French, and thereby, enemy coast, an Air Sea Rescue could not be launched. What happened after the crew boarded their raft is not more than assumptions. Taken by the current or flipped over with a high wave; all sadly perished and were reported as MIA.