B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-30130 / Alia Bubble Trouble aka Klap Trap II

History of
B-17 42-30130 / Alia Bubble Trouble aka Klap Trap II

Delivered Cheyenne 15/4/43; Smoky Hill 24/4/43; Presque Is 16/5/43; Assigned 337BS/96BG [AW-J] Andrews Fd 25/5/43 ALIA BUBBLE TROUBLE; Snetterton 12/6/43 then 413BS; Missing in Action Ludwigshafen 7/1/44 with Roland Peterson, Co-pilot: Oscar Megginson, Navigator: Frank Painer, Bombardier: Morris Friedman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Preston Hildebrand, Radio Operator: Cliff Busch, Ball turret gunner: Harry White, Waist gunner: Jerome Dudek (8 Killed in Action); Waist gunner: Bill Roberts,Tail gunner: Andy Wiess (2 Prisoner of War); flak set engine afire near Eindhoven, crashed Molenschot, between Breda & Tilburg, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 2018. KLAP TRAP II.

Last updated: 9. April 2024

B-17 42-30130 / Alia Bubble Trouble aka Klap Trap II Details

Last seen skimming along on top of undercast, evidently under control, but unable to keep up in formation. Cause unknown.

Circumstances of loss of aircraft:

Reporter was the tail gunner on a B-17. Flak hit the #3 engine. There was an explosion. The reporter was knocked unconscious. He recovered consciousness while descending toward the earth in the tail section of the plane. He bailed out successfully.

Source: MACR 2018

B-17 42-30130 / Alia Bubble Trouble aka Klap Trap II Crew