Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-90-BO: 42-30132 to 42-30231 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 388th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 561st Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 3540 |
| Fate: |
, caught fire in action (27 March 1944) |
| Missions: | 40 |
History of
B-17 42-30207 / Big Red
Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 12/6/43; Assigned: 561BS/388BG [ -T] Knettishall 14/6/43; MIA Bordeaux 27/3/44 Pilot: Julius Lenderman, Co-Pilot: Waite Law, Bombardier: John Luzell (3POW); Navigator: John Carroll, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Herman Hermanson (2EVD); Radio Operator: Blair Harman, Ball Turret Gunner: Lou Mizera, Waist Gunner: George Schartzkopf, Waist Gunner: Joe Kapec, Tail Gunner: George Hewett (5KIA); flare set off fire in radio room, circled & crashed La Gombretiere, Aizenay, nine miles NW of La Roche-sur-Yon, 17 miles S of Nantes, Fr. MACR 3540. BIG RED.
B-17 42-30207 / Big Red Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Julius Lederman | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Waite Deeds Law Jr. | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | John Joseph Carroll | EVD | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | John Nunez Luzell | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Herman Frank Hermanson | EVD | - |
| RO | SGT | Blair Harper Harman | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Louis Mizera | KIA | - |
| WG | --- | George J. Schwarzkoph | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Joseph James Kapec | KIA | - |
| TG | SGT | George William Hewett | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 09 February 2019
23. October 2021 access_time 6:17
George William Hewett was not killed in action, he was a German prisoner of war until the end of the war.
02. September 2024 access_time 22:06
Hi Virginia, I’m Steve Lederman, Julius’ son. Do you have any more information about George Hewitt you can share with me? Thanks
28. February 2025 access_time 11:00
Hello, I’m currently making researches on the Big Red, for an exhibition in Vendee (place of the plane’s crash) about World War two.
Accordind to our researches, Hewett was captured and prisonner in Stalag 17B (Braunau Gneikendorf). Source : https://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=1069
However, I would be curious to learn more about your father, Julius Lederman, and I’m available for any further discussions!
Thanks
17. January 2026 access_time 18:02
My father, Herman Hermanson, top turret gunner on the B17 Big Red, narrated his experiences escaping with the help of the Frence Resistance. He passed June 14, 1984 at the age of 61. If you would like to read his story, contact me via email and I will send it to you. Don’t think I could have had the courage that he had at the age of 22.