| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-65-BO: 42-29632 to 42-29731 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 306th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 367th Bomb Squadron |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (05 April 1943) |
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History of
B-17 42-29660
Delivered Denver 29/1/43; Salina 9/2/43; Assigned 367BS/306BG [GY- ] Thurleigh 22/3/43; Missing in Action Antwerp 5/4/43 with Kelly Ross, Co-pilot: George Lewis, Navigator: Sid Miller, {no bomb’r} Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Hovekamp, Radio Operator: Doug Bowles, Ball turret gunner: Earl Benson, Waist gunner: Clyde Smith (7 Prisoner of War); Waist gunner: Arthur Byrd,Tail gunner: Arnold Hyman (2 Killed in Action); shot down by Hptm Galland, crashed Zandvliet, 12 miles N of Antwerp, Hol. No MACR.
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This page was last updated on 17 August 2025
06. June 2025 access_time 0:21
This plane was shot down by flak. My father, Lt. James W. Crouch, Jr., was co-pilot. He was hit by flak as well. Lt. Clarence was pilot. All other occupants were different than you show on your list. I have complete list and story of that day.
11. June 2025 access_time 19:38
The pilot was Lt. Clarence Fischer. The plane was shot down by flak and fighters. details of crew names and the story of the Lil’ Abner being shot down on 4-05-43 have been emailed to Jing.
12. August 2025 access_time 21:21
Jing is not interested in updating information on his site. I sent him all info about this plane the day it was shot down over 2 months ago and he has not read it nor used any of it to update the correct crew on the plane the day it was shot down, etc.
Don’t waste your time with this guy.
Greg Crouch
12. August 2025 access_time 22:32
I had a look at the 306th Bomb Group website which has copies of mission reports. The mission report for 5th April 1943 shows your father was flying in B-17 42-5431, not 42-29660. There appears to be a mix-up in which B-17 was named L’il Abner. This is the link to the mission report – https://www.306bg.us/MISSION_REPORTS/5apr43_v2.pdf See pages 11 and 20 which show your father was on 42-5431.
16. August 2025 access_time 10:54
Hello Greg, I have replied to your email. Finally. Thanks for the document. I recommend to check the mission report, posted by Ross Smith above.
16. August 2025 access_time 17:09
It would be better to remove the L’il Abner name from this B-17 and add it to 42-5431, as the name appears to belong to that B-17.
17. August 2025 access_time 21:39
@Ross, I have removed L’il Abner from 42-29660 and added to 42-5431. Thanks for checking the information.
19. August 2025 access_time 17:39
Could someone direct me to comments made about this plane by a relative of Lt. Clarence Fischer.
thank you, Greg Crouch
19. August 2025 access_time 19:16
This may be of interest – https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/person/clarence-eugene-fischer