B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-30319 / Shirley our Girlie

History of
B-17 42-30319 / Shirley our Girlie

Delivered Cheyenne 13/5/43; Gore 26/5/43; Smoky Hill 29/5/43; Morrison 8/6/43; Assigned 419BS/301BG St Donat 6/7/43; Oudna 6/8/43; transferred 49BS/2BG Massicault 7/10/43; {9m} 419BS/301BG Oudna 14/11/43; {44m} 414BS/97BG Amendola 10/5/44; Missing in Action Debrecen 2/6/44 with Alf Bond, Co-pilot: Warren DeVilbiss, Navigator: Bill Metz, Bombardier: Bob Schratwieser, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Collum, Radio Operator: Bob Carberry, Ball turret gunner: – Sikion, Waist gunner: Walt Bazia, Waist gunner: Jim Whitty,Tail gunner: Ray May (9MIA); flak & exploded, crashed Debrecen; Missing Air Crew Report 6310.

Last updated: 7. January 2022

B-17 42-30319 / Shirley our Girlie Details

Eyewitness statements to the loss of B-17G 42-30319 / Shirley our Girlie

I the undersigned was flying as top turret gunner on aircraft #470, of the 342nd Bomb Squadron, when I saw A/C #319 pull out of formation. Before the A/C left formation I saw gas flowing back over the left wing from #2 engine. The pilot feathered #2 engine and pulled out of formation. He gradually fell behind and was loosing altitude. The next thing I saw was smoke coming out #2 engine and then the A/C turned as if it was going to return to base. While it was turning it exploded. Several mintutes later I saw three (3) chutes about 2,000 feet behind and slightly below where the aircraft exploded. All chutes had opened, as seemed in very good shape. All this happened after bombs away. The A/C was not hit by flak, as there was none over the entire area, and no enemy aircraft were in the vicinity. My estimate as to the probable cause is that either a gas cap came loose, or the fuel line broke at the engine and sparks from the superchargers or heat from the cylinders caused the combustion.

T/Sgt. William P. Rightmire

I the undersigned was flying as ball turret gunner on aircraft #470, of the 342nd Bomb Squadron. When aircraft #319, fell out of formation, and came back to level flight, just off our left wing, about 2000 feet below us. From my ball turret position it looked like as though #2 engine had been feathered. Smoke was coming out of #2 engine. The aircraft then exploded, I saw three (3) parachutes come out and the opened OK. I also saw three burning objects that could have been chutes. That was the last I saw of the aircraft.

Sgt. Billie Magby

Source: MACR 6310

B-17 42-30319 / Shirley our Girlie Crew