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Production-block:
B-17F-65-BO: 42-29632 to 42-29731
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 384th Bomb Group
- 94th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 331st Bomb Squadron
- 547th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: QE-R, SO-R
MACR: 290
History of
B-17 42-29686 / Pie-Eyed Piper
Delivered Denver 2/2/43; 94BG Pueblo 18/2/43; Salina 25/2/43; Brookley 19/3/43; Smoky Hill 23/3/43; Gulfport 10/4/43; Assigned: 331BS/94BG [QE-R] Earls Colne 12/5/43; Transferred: 547BS/384BG [SO-B] Grafton Underwood 12/7/43; MIA Gelsenkirchen 12/8/43 Pilot: Bill Bigelow, Co-Pilot: Earl Price, Navigator: Rich Hill, Radio Operator: Bill Bartels, Ball Turret Gunner: George Fulton, Waist Gunner: Walt Nowotny, Waist Gunner: Mike Lome, Tail Gunner: Martin Parisot (8POW); Bombardier: Walt Humphreys, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Bill Hamilton (2KIA); Enemy aircraft, crashed Heisterbacherrott, three miles E of Konigswinter, Germany. MACR 290. PIE-EYED PIPER (aka ‘ KAYO).
Last updated: 18. November 2018
08. April 2021 access_time 19:16
Walter Humphreys was my father’s second cousin. My grandmother kept in contact with Walters mother, as they were 1st cousins. My grandmother had emigrated to the Nebraska in the 1900s and had been helped by Walters grandfather, Henry Roberts. My grandmother came back to the UK after a few years. She kept in touch with her cousin over the years. As a small boy I met Walters mother twice and she spoke fluent Welsh. We have a cutting from the Wymore paper. Said he was lost in action. 20 years ago, I contacted the library in Wymore. They sent me loads of obits on my grandmother’s family. Including her brother and his family. They sent me another obit on Walter, with one additional sentence. When Walter Humphreys reached the ground, he was killed by German civilians. It certainly sent a chill down my spine. In Wymore, you were either Welsh or German American. Ironically Walter had at least two German American brothers in law. Tragic story and I suspect he was killed by German farmers. We were supposed to meet his nephew, a USAAF pilot. He was destined for a posting at Bentwaters? However Vietnam happened
21. February 2024 access_time 23:12
I know the crash site, is near my home
11. January 2022 access_time 0:05
Bob, Walter would have been my Granduncle as my Grandmother was his sister, I have heard stories of my Great-grandfather and Great-grandmother being notified of his death, It was said he parachuted out when his plain was shot down and was meet with pitchforks.
17. February 2022 access_time 13:20
Bob, Jerry: Walt Humphreys is mentioned in Kevin Hall’s “Terror Flyers”, Appendix D, p. 322/323, as having been shot while parachuting to the ground (based on crew reports). The bit about “pitchforks” or being killed on the ground “by German farmers” does not sound unlikely – such crimes did happen frequently – but in spite of my extensive research into airmen lynching murders I have not yet found evidence that this was the case with Walt Humphrey. Kevin Hall claims the case was investigated under the case number 12-1552 but there is no trial record that I could find.
04. July 2022 access_time 5:03
Earl Price was my great uncle.