B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-3053 / Desperate Journey

History of
B-17 42-3053 / Desperate Journey

Delivered Cheyenne 19/1/43; Assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-Z] Morrison 5/3/43; Bassingbourn 25/3/43; Missing in Action Wilhelmshafen 21/5/43 with Norbert Koll, Co-pilot: Wayne Buck, Bombardier: Edwin Bruton, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Albert Zaverl, Radio Operator: Alfredo Davila, Waist gunner: Elwyn Roberts, Waist gunner: Guy Wyatt,Tail gunner: Bill Caligan (8 Killed in Action); Navigator: Joe Ferry, Ball turret gunner: Bob Abt (2 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft set ship afire, crashed Hogebarg, near Wittmundenhafen, W of Wilhelmshafen, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 4438 (4633?). DESPERATE JOURNEY.

Last updated: 4. April 2021

B-17 42-3053 / Desperate Journey Details

The B-17 #42-3053 Desperate Journey flew most of its missions along side the Memphis Belle.

I was Ball Turret Gunner on my first trip with this crew and didn’t known their names or residences too well. Enemy fighters set our plane in flames. We were going to crash land, but at 1000 feet the plane began to crack and two of us managed to bail to safely.

S/Sgt. Robert J. Abt

B-17 42-3053 / Desperate Journey Crew