B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-29731 / Moore-Fidite aka Ol’ Swayback

History of
B-17 42-29731 / Moore-Fidite aka Ol’ Swayback

Delivered Denver 12/2/43; Walker 23/2/43; Smoky Hill 28/3/43; Presque 8/4/43; Assigned 413BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 18/4/43 MOOR-FIDITE; Andrews Fd 13/5/43; Snetterton 12/6/43; transferred 532BS/381BG [VE-E] Ridgewell 16/7/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 17/8/43; enemy aircraft & flak KO’d #3, #4 feathered, crashed Ebrach, 18 miles SE of Schweinfurt, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 663. OL’ SWAYBACK.

Last updated: 24. May 2020

B-17 42-29731 / Moore-Fidite aka Ol’ Swayback Details

Statements from MACR 663

Over the target, A/C #42-29731 was hit by burst of flak between #3 and #4 engines. No 3 engine smoked violently and was feathered. No 4 engine began to smoke also and was feathered. The ship could not hold formation, so copilot waved to formation and ship pulled out of formation and flew a heading of about 220°, letting down. No fighters were in the vicinty at the time. Another ship from our wing which was also smoking, dropped down and the two ships flew together. A chute was later observed below, but I could not determine what ship it came from.

Marvin D. Lord
1st Lt., Air Corps

42-29731 was hit over target. #3 and #4 engines out. Five chutes seen. Another ship reported this A/C with #3 and #4 engines out went down in glong [sic] flide to 17000. When lost sight of. Another ship reported this A/C hit by flak and 8 chutes seen to come out. Another ship reported this A/C went down away below group with #3 and #4 engines out right over target. Two baled out. No fighters around him. Still another ship reported this A/C with #3 and #4 engines feathered, one smoking, on a 220° heading letting down gradually on a straight course. Yet another reported this A/C lost two engines over target and pulled out heading for Switzerland which it appeared he could make.

Don S. Williams
1st Lt. Air Corps
381st Bomb Group (H)

B-17 42-29731 / Moore-Fidite aka Ol’ Swayback Crew