B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-29959

History of
B-17 42-29959

Delivered Denver 17/3/43; Gore 20/3/43; New Castle 13/4/43; Dow Fd 21/4/43; en route UK was involved in landing accident with Bob Baker at Langford Lodge, N. Ireland; Assigned 367BS/306BG [GY-M] Thurleigh 23/5/43; then 423BS; Missing in Action Bremen 8/10/43 with Larry Kooima, Co-pilot: Frank Crawford, Navigator: Don Berkey, Bombardier: Chas Cressey, Ball turret gunner: Stan Couvillion, Waist gunner: Alvis Tinsley (6 Killed in Action), Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Virgil Struckhoff, Radio Operator: Cecil Brooks, Waist gunner: Fred Hutchinson,Tail gunner: Bob Westonwho landed in Bremen street! (4 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Fischerhude, six miles E of Bremen, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 867.

Last updated: 15. June 2022

B-17 42-29959 Details

Eyewitness Statement from MACR 867

On Oct. 8, 1943 over Bremen, Germany, we received several direct hits from anti-aircraft fire, and took the blunt of numerous passed from German planes. Our plane was crippled and burning. The pilot, 1Lt. Lawrance W. Kooima gave orders to jump. He and co-pilot 1Lt. Frank K. Craword were trying to keep the plane level, when I left. Up till then, 1Lt. Donald W. Berkey and 1Lt. Charles A. Cressy were still firing their respective guns. I do not not why they did not jump.

I was the top turret gunner and left thru the nose hatch, because the engineer’s emergency exit,, the bomb bay, was burning. S/Sgt. Stanley J. Cosevillin, and S/Sgt. Alvis Tinsley, the ball turret and waist gunner respectively, were killed that day. But I never passed that way on my way out, so I do not know their status, when I left.

T/Sgt. Virgil A. Struckhoff

Memorial of B-17 #42-29959

B-17 42-29959 Crew