Production-block:
B-17F-80-BO: 42-29932 to 42-30031
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 306th Bomb Group
- 379th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 525th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: BO-N, FR-C
MACR: 1051
History of
B-17 42-29937
Delivered 13/3/43; Walla Walla 28/3/43; Metropolitan 13/4/43; Presque Is 29/4/43; Assigned: 306BS/306BG [BO-N] Thurleigh 23/5/43; Transferred: 525BS/379BG [FR-C] Kimbolton 27/6/43; MIA Rennes 23/9/43 Pilot: Leslie Braidenthal, Bombardier: George Padgett, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Fred Small, Radio Operator: Jim McKinley, Ball Turret Gunner: Mike Pitzo, Waist Gunner: Joe Mayo, Waist Gunner: Gordon Shaw, Tail Gunner: Waldo Rickett (8POW), Co-Pilot: Arnold Wornson, Navigator: Sid Elskes (2EVD); Enemy aircraft, crashed Rennes, Fr. MACR 1051.
Last updated: 26. September 2020
B-17 42-29937 Details
Aircraft last seen disappearing into haze & burning but under control. Five chutes were seen.
B-17 42-29937 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Leslie T. Braidenthal | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Arnold T. Wornson | EVD | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Sidney J. Elskes | EVD | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | George C. Padgett | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Fred L. Small | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | James T. McKinley | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Mike Pitzo | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Joseph D. Mayo | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Gordon C. Shaw | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Waldo L. Rickett | POW | - |
28. February 2025 access_time 2:50
The pilot, Leslie T. Breidenthal was my uncle. In April 2025 I am going to Rennes, France to try to find out about the crash. He survived as a POW. He was 20 years old and supposedly the youngest according to a newspaper article. He was an opera singer, voice teacher and artist after the war. My dad was a WW2 pilot as well. Served in the Soloman Islands against the Japanese.