| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-75-BO: 42-29832 to 42-29931 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 351st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 510th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | TU-C |
| MACR | 303 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (17 August 1943) |
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History of
B-17 42-29839 / Cherokee Girl
Delivered Cheyenne 26/2/43; Pueblo 16/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-C] Polebrook, Missing in Action {13m} Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Helmuth Hansen, Co-pilot: J. Z. Comfort, Navigator: John Dytman, Bombardier: Dale Van Brunt, Radio Operator: Adam Gasek, Ball turret gunner: Paul Hennessey, Waist gunner: Don Boss, Waist gunner: Elwin Smith,Tail gunner: Gus Warden (9 Prisoner of War), Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Tuite Ambrose (Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Mayen, five miles SE of Koblenz, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 303. CHEROKEE GIRL.
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This page was last updated on 31 May 2017
19. March 2025 access_time 22:12
The waist gunner, Donald Boss, was my wife’s great uncle. The family legend has it that just before the final flight, Tuite Ambrose (the top turret gunner, who was killed) asked Donald if they could trade places for the flight. Donald agreed. When the plane was shot down, Tuite Ambrose was killed in the waist gunner position and Donald Boss was spared. Donald stated that if Tuite hadn’t traded places, Donald would have been the one killed.
In the crash, Donald Boss broke his back. The story goes that the guards wanted to shoot him, since he couldn’t carry his own weight, but the German doctor insisted that Donald Boss was his patient, and they couldn’t have Donald to shoot. Donald credited that German doctor with saving his life more than once.
One of Donald’s nephews relayed the story of going hunting with Donald and Donald’s brother Kenneth. The nephew said he was impressed with the absolute fearlessness in the way Donald approached life.
16. October 2025 access_time 9:18
Not sure who to address this to, but I am Donald G Boss Jr. S one of your story was true and I appreciate the things you said about my dad. Before my dad passed we were able to take a flight in sentimental journey with the , what was then the confederate Air Force, now commemorative. Dad called me the night before an air show in Colorado. Said he wanted to go and I said yes of course.The morning of the flight dad wanted to get to the airport early. I didn’t know why but we were there before the sun came up. We saw the plane and dad went straight for it. The airport was void of anyone at that point. As we walked around the plane we saw a man checking tires and fuel etc. Dad went up to him and told him that was one of his jobs and in seconds they were long lost friends. After 20 minutes or so the man asked dad if he would like to go up for a brief check out flight. Dad said,well ya. As I watched dad get on the plane all I could think of was how proud I was of him. He boarded as people started to gather around the plane. I stood there unable to totally process what was going on. About that time the back door came open and the man yelled my name. I wasn’t sure what was going on but he waved me over to the plane. Dad was behind him and told me to get on quickly. He handed me a paper to sign, if we crashed, and made our way thru some photographers and news people to the front of the plane where no one else was allowed.When we got to the cockpit everyone introduced them selves and the man said this is Don, top turret gunner. The pilots were really pleased with being able to have a vet with them. They cleared people away from the plane, started the engines, and I began to see why dad didn’t hear so well. Dad said to go sit in the front of the plane, best seat in the house, so I crawled under the pilots area and sat in the nose. Our trip was supposed to be a 20 minute flight but with them talking to dad and dad telling them stories, it was over an our. At one point dad came up front and sat with me. We started talking, well yelling, at each other when for the first time in my life I watched my dad cry. It hurt him so bad that I wept with him. When it was time to land he said he was going to try something and told me to stay put. As we came in all lined up we suddenly swerved to the left and then not knowing what was going on the pilot put that big bomber on its left wingtip and buzzed the tower! We lined up again and landed. He said he talked the pilots into it. This experience will always be deep in my heart. Thanks Dad!