B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-29991 / Patches aka We’ll Never Know

History of
B-17 42-29991 / Patches aka We’ll Never Know

Delivered Cheyenne 25/3/43; Dallas 2/4/43; Dow Fd 12/4/43; Love Fd 13/5/43; Geiger 26/5/43; Gt Falls 7/6/43; Smoky Hill 29/6/43; Dow Fd 11/7/43; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-T] Framlingham 14/7/43 PATCHES; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 14/10/43 with Fernie McEwin, Co-pilot: Bob Withrow, Navigator: Vic Baker, Bombardier: Larry Baker, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Powers, Radio Operator: Albt Widman, Ball turret gunner: Cecil Holliday, Waist gunner: George Jahnke, Waist gunner: Edwin Pearce,Tail gunner: Fred Smart (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Lohrweg, near Gondelsheim, nine miles E of Karlsruhe, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 858. WE’LL NEVER KNOW.

Last updated: 27. June 2020

B-17 42-29991 / Patches aka We’ll Never Know Details

Shot down by Me410A-1 with Pilot Uffz. Hermann Bolten of KG 2./11

Eyewitness Statements from MACR 858

1523 hours – 991 from our Group left formation – 8 chutes – three engines went out – about 20 miles NE of Karlsruhe – Out altitude 23000 feet

Capt. John E. Asmussen

McEwin, over target flak hit No. 3 engine – he feathered it, after R.P. single fighter hit with 20mm – 10 chutes seen at same place as pink flak – 40°12′ – 08°15′ E

Capt. Robert D. Brown
Capt. Louis W. Dolan
Lt. Col. Thomas S Jeffrey, Jr.
Capt. John J. Clark

10 chutes out of ship between target and rally point – No 1 & 2 engines hit by flak.

1Lt. Roger A. Cartwright

Ship 991 with 2 engines feathered left formation at rally point – had 2 props feathered – 10 chutes seen still under control – big hole in wing and gas was streaming out – time 1500 hours

Capt. James R. Geary

Saw A/V 991 get flak in No 3 engine over target – feathered 2 engines – e/a shot cannon at ship splitting gas tank open – 991 dropped out of formation and went down – saw 10 chutes come out – 39 e/a followed ship down – 15 minutes off target – saw one of crew land in forest.

1Lt. Bruce R. Riley

B-17 42-29991 / Patches aka We’ll Never Know Crew