Production-block:
B-17F-75-BO: 42-29832 to 42-29931
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 351st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 510th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: TU-C
MACR: 303
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.
Last updated: 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.