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Source:
www.95thbg-horham.com
Production-block:
B-17F-90-BO: 42-30132 to 42-30231
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 351st Bomb Group
- 95th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 334th Bomb Squadron
- 511th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: DS-N, BG-H
MACR: 855
Missions: 20
History of
B-17 42-30135 / Trouble Shooter
Delivered Cheyenne 15/4/43; Smoky Hill 22/4/43; Presque Is 10/5/43; Assigned 511BS/351BG [DS-N] Polebrook 26/5/43; transferred 334BS/95BG [BG-H] Horham 16/6/43; on 16/9/43 with Bill McPherson force landed RAF Harwarden; taxi accident with Albt Rummans Metfield 13/10/43; Missing in Action (20m) Missing in Action Schweinfurt 14/10/43 with Capt Bill McPherson, Co-pilot: George Byrnes, Navigator: Bill Prochaska, Bombardier: Austin Pritchard, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Leon Ciaccia, Radio Operator: Tony Kosmala, Ball turret gunner: Frank A. Castellucci, Waist gunner: Morris Eckard, Waist gunner: Henry Rhodes (9 Prisoner of War);Tail gunner: Fred Nunnold (EVD-and returned); #3 feathered, gear down, then crashed between Rheims & Sedan, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 855. TROUBLE SHOOTER.
Last updated: 1. June 2020
B-17 42-30135 / Trouble Shooter Details
B-17F 42-30135 piloted by Capt. William R. McPherson, Jr. was last seen to be hit by flak and drop from formation five minutes past the target at 50°00’N – 10°17’E. The pilot after feathering the #3 engine put down the wheels, waved the rest of the group and had his men bail out. Ten chutes were seen to leave the ship.
David E. Olsson
1st Lt., Air Corps
Asst. Operations Officer
Source: MACR 855
B-17 42-30135 / Trouble Shooter Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | CPT | William R. McPherson | POW | - |
| CP | 1LT | George G. Byrnes | POW | - |
| NAV | 1LT | William Prochaska | POW | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | Austin E. Pritchard | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Leonard L. Ciaccia | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Anthony Kosmala | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Frank A. Castellucci | POW | - |
| WG | T/SGT | Morris V. Eckard | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Henry P. Rhodes | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Frederick G. Nunnold | EVD | - |
10. August 2021 access_time 13:34
My grandfather was Leonard L. Ciaccia. I have some information. I would love to share and I am of course looking for more!
19. May 2022 access_time 21:51
Hi my father was on this plane he was Henry p rhodes from Lynn ma I would love to hear any info and would like to know of any pictures with this plane and crew thank you cheryl
03. November 2023 access_time 7:22
Hi, I am a french searcher about aviation history in Ardennes area during WWII. Like you I’am looking for informations concerning this plane. After some investigations, it seem this Fortress made an emergency landing. But I found two possible places:
first one at BULSON (south Sedan)
second one at RILLY -sur-AISNE, alons river Aisne more southly.
May be one of airmen have been captured at Chehery ( Ardennes departement) in a pub .
I think for more informations may be you could have access to Evasion Report from Frederick G. NUNNOLD .
Do you think that the rest of the crew have been debriefed when they returned to States? Probably some reports exist. Whith a little luke we could progress.
Best regards
Pierre ROGER
13 allée des framboises
08440 LUMES
FRANCE
08. August 2024 access_time 18:19
I personally knew Austin Pritchard. He retired from the USAF as a LtCol. I knew him as a civilian USAF employee assigned to MacDill AFB. I was assigned there also and we worked in the base weather station in hanger 3. Mr. Pritchard was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. As a POW he was sent to the same camp where the Great Escape took place approximately 6 months after he arrived in Oct 1943. Also despite the Hollywood version of that even, no US personnel were a part of the escape. US airmen were housed in a separate area in the camp. Also he personally told me that Captain McPherson landed the plane. “He was a good pilot” he told me when I asked him if they had to bail out of the aircraft. Their mission took place on what is known in 8th AF history as Black Thursday. It was the second raid on the Schweinfurt industrial complex that produced ball bearings. More than 70 bombers were lost that day.