| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-90-BO: 42-30132 to 42-30231 |
| Delievered: | Cheyenne |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 2nd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 429th Bomb Squadron |
| MACR: | 1112 |
| German Document: | B 87 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (02 November 1943) |
| Missions: | 41 |
History of
B-17 42-30133 / Raggedy Ann
Delivered Cheyenne 17/4/43; Smoky Hill 23/4/43; Morrison 5/5/43; Warner Robins 8/5/43; Morrison 18/5/43; Assigned 429BS/2BG Chateau-du-Rhumel 4/6/43; Ain M’Lila 17/6/43; Massicault 31/7/43; Missing in Action {41m} Wiener Neustadt 1/12/43 with Dick Eggers, Co-pilot: Don Elder, Navigator: Bill Thompson, Bombardier: Chas Major, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chester Ehredt, Radio Operator: Claude Roper, Ball turret gunner: Malcolm Mathews, Waist gunner: Marion Benbrook (8 Prisoner of War), Waist gunner: George Brand,Tail gunner: Tom Zelasko (2KIA found in wreckage); shot down by enemy aircraft. Crashed Schlatten, 18km south of Wiener-Neustadt, Austria. Missing Air Crew Report 1112. RAGGEDY ANN.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-30133 / Raggedy Ann Details
While at Dulag Luft, Frankfurt Germany, the holding camp for personnel to be shipped to a permanent camp, a German Sergeant asked me how many men were killed on the crew. I told him none. He informed me that two (2) men were killed and showed me their identification tags and told me that they were buried at some town close to where the plane crashed by the name of Walpersbach. I asked what kind of a burial they had and he said it was not a military one but that they did get a decent burial.
I was on the loose until November the 4th and when captured I estimated I was approximately thirty (30) miles South of Wiener Neustadt. The gendarme responsible for the capture took me to a little village ( cannot remember the name) here he showed me the dog tags of the two boys that he reported killed, also he showed me a pair of baby shoes that belonged to Sgt. Zelasko and were always tied to the “Y” of the Ball Turret on our ship. The same day he took me to Vienna Austria and on the way he drove up on a small hill top which had a few farm houses on it. (This was only a short way from the town he took me to after capture) He stopped at one of the farm houses to get information from them about our ship which was crashed in their field a short way from the house. I was not allowed to leave the automobile, and the weather was cloudy and foggy. Through the fog and to the best of my ability and memory I thought I could distinguish what looked like the tail and part of a wing with an engine on it not over five hundred yards from the farm house and buildings.
Donald E. Elder
02 March 1946
Source: MACR 1112
B-17 42-30133 / Raggedy Ann Crew
| Position | Rank | Name (First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name) | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Richard F. Eggers | POW | - |
| CP | F/O | Donald E. Elder | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | William C. Thompson | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Charles E. Major | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Chester F. Ehredt | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Claude T. Roper | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Malcom R. Matthews | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | George J. Brand | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Marion M. Benbrook | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Thomas A. Zelasko | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 29 April 2026
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Help preserve the archive: I invest a lot of time into these research results. If my work helps you, I would appreciate a small tip!
19. February 2019 access_time 3:34
Are there any photos of 42-30133 (Raggedy Ann) or the crew?
18. May 2020 access_time 20:20
I wish. If you have find any please feel free to let me know. My Great Uncle was George Brand mentioned above. He was killed on this mission after volunteering to fill in for a man that was sick.
18. May 2020 access_time 20:20
Also, I have several pics of some of the crew if you would like them.
24. May 2020 access_time 16:43
I would love any pics you have my Uncle was Marion Benbrook who was a waist gunner and POW
14. December 2020 access_time 2:50
I would love any pictures that you have you can email them to me
22. November 2022 access_time 6:16
My dad was crew chief for Raggedy Ann. He talked about Eggers in his diary. If anyone has photos of the crew or the plane, let me know!
03. July 2024 access_time 21:29
Hello! My grandmother’s brother was tail gunner Thomas Zalesko. Any pictures of the crew would be great. Thanks!
26. December 2025 access_time 21:50
My Uncle Chester Ehredt was the T/Sgt and Top Gunner on the Raggedy Ann. I have one photo of him standing on the wing and posing with a machine gun. He survived the downing and his POW experience and lived out the rest of his life in New Jersey. He was a wonderful man. I would LOVE pictures of the plane and/or crew!
19. May 2020 access_time 1:36
I have photos of George Brand. He was my great grandpa’s brother.
27. October 2020 access_time 14:02
My Wife’s Grandfather was Co-Pilot Donald Elder. I would love any crew photos that are available.
30. November 2020 access_time 16:40
I’m an American expat and amateur historian who now lives in the town where this bomber crashed. I’ve been asking around for any photos of the event or site (apparently the wreckage was there for years after… women would come down and cut aluminum panels off to make cookware), but so far no luck. I’ll certainly post here if I find anything!
29. November 2022 access_time 23:00
We have located the precise crash site and debriefed the elderly local residents who still remember the aircraft! Here is the location lat/long: (47.6524267, 16.2363801)
22. February 2024 access_time 21:09
I’m the grandson of co-pilot Don Elder; I would very much appreciate any pictures [or additional information] that anyone has. I have pictures of the bombing site, and of my grandfather if anyone is interested.