B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-29895 / The Black Swan

History of
B-17 42-29895 / The Black Swan

Delivered Cheyenne 4/3/43; Scott Fd 28/3/43; Scotts Bluff 7/4/43; Smoky Hill 16/4/43; Presque Is 2/5/43; Assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-H] Bassingbourn 23/5/43; Missing in Action (20+m) Bordeaux 31/12/43 with Stuart Mendelsohn (decapitated), Radio Operator: Dick Hensley (2 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Laverne Woods, Navigator: Warren Ellis, Ball turret gunner: Larry Hull, Waist gunner: Abe Lieberman, Waist gunner: Rollin Gator, Tail gunner: Porter Clemens (6 Prisoner of War), Bombardier: James Schneider, Top Turret Gunner: Jim Quinn (2 evaded capture); Flak KO’d #3, then hit by ground fire as they crossed low over the Brest peninsula, limping home killing two crew, crashed Bannalec, 40 miles NW of L’Orient, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 1975. THE BLACK SWAN.

Last updated: 1. January 2022

B-17 42-29895 / The Black Swan Details

Photo taken on 20 December 1943. Eleven days later, this #42-29895 ‘The Black Swan’ were shot down by flak on mission to Lorient.

Eyewitness Description

At 1303 hours 4550N–0130W, A/C 42-29895 was seen with No. 1 engine on fire. This aircraft went up to “B” flight of composite group – drifted back and fitted in with other flight.

Source: MACR 1975

B-17 42-29895 / The Black Swan Crew