zoom_in
Source:
https://390th.org
Production-block:
B-17F-115-BO: 42-30617 to 42-30731
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 390th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 568th Bomb Squadron
- 569th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: BI-O, CC-O
MACR: 7555 / KSU/ME/KU: 1518
History of
B-17 42-30642 / Geronimo
Delivered Cheyenne 3/7/43; Gore 4/7/43; Cheyenne 26/7/43; Dow Fd 27/7/43; Assigned: 568BS/390BG [BI-O] Framlingham 6/8/43; Transferred: 569BS [CC-O]; MIA Schweinfurt 19/7/44 Pilot: Dick Smith, Ira Pritchett, Dan Sulmazey, Theo Ekdahl, John Tope, Lee tabor, Bill Bruton, Alb Herricht, Bob Milligan, Bob Richardson (10KIA); flak, one engine out, crashed Haren, Belgium. MACR 7555. GERONIMO.
Last updated: 23. January 2021
B-17 42-30642 / Geronimo Details
At about 0845 hours at about 20000 feet, near Aachen 5045N – 0600E A/C 642 peeled out of formation and dropped behind. Pilot called out over VHF saying one. engine out and was aborting. A/C fell behind group and last reported straggling near 5045N – 0600E. No chutes seen. Cause of distress unknown.
B-17 42-30642 / Geronimo Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Richard O. Smith | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Ira E. Pritchett, Jr. | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Daniel P. Sulmasy | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | John L. Tope | KIA | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Lee J. Tabor | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | William E. Bruton | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Albert E. Herricht | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Robert Milligan | KIA | - |
| TG | SGT | Robert D. Richardson | KIA | - |
| TOG | S/SGT | Theodore M. Ekdahl | KIA | - |
08. May 2019 access_time 10:56
Hi,
as I am busy researching some reports on the Geronimo, pls note it did not crash in Malmedy but in Haren, close to Brussels.
It needs to be corrected in your database.
Hope it helped you
Stephan
08. May 2019 access_time 17:30
Hello Stephan,
thank you for the information. Crash site changed to Haren, Belgium.
06. November 2023 access_time 2:11
Hi. I just want to thank you for your efforts in this endeavor. My grandmother {Evelyn Majka} was married to Richard O. Smith when he was KIA. She passed away in 2000 without knowing exactly what happened to Dick and his crew. I wish I had more info to give you. I just want to thank you for keeping those brave mens memory alive. My grandmother would have loved to see your work.
13. November 2023 access_time 10:34
Hi Daniel,
thank you for your email. Not sure if you saw the album of your uncle on our Amry Air Forces Historical Society page on Facebook. It is a pity the B-17 most likely crashed on the current N.A.T.O. site in Haren (Every). Your aunt (I think), Barbara Smith wanted to erect a memorial or so, but then I menitoned to her that it is N.A.T.O. military area. So we can not even access that terrain. It is a pity. But if you would have some more photos or you gain more info from relatives, it is always a welcome to receive it form my own records.
Have a good day and I hope we stay in contact!
Stephan
13. November 2023 access_time 10:35
oops..sorry for the typing errors. Was typing too fast….
11. January 2020 access_time 0:59
My Dad, Alton Pierce and my uncle Ted Pierce, flew 18 of their 35 missions on Geronimo. Their very first mission was on April 4, 1944 and the last on Geronimo was July 7, 1944.
11. January 2020 access_time 11:35
Hello Richard,
thank you for sharing your Dad’s and uncle’s history! Did they flew together on missions in the same B-17?
26. July 2021 access_time 23:25
The Pierces did fly together and I believe they completed all 35 missions together. They were part of the crew my grandfather, George McKee, was on for all 35 of his missions as pilot. I believe 18 of those missions were on Geronimo which was shot down while they were on leave. Another plane the crew flew for 10+ missions was also shot down while they were on leave.
14. December 2021 access_time 21:47
Alton Pierce and Ted Pierce were my great uncles! (my grandmother, Barbara, was the their sister.) I am in the midst of doing family trees and was looking for their actual plane, i know my mother has a bunch of memorabilia. We also have half dollar that has a hole blown into it from a bullet – would’ve killed him!
12. September 2022 access_time 17:48
Hi,
I also do research on B-17 Geronimo. Like you the only photo of the bomber you have I have. She was downed at Haren- Belbium. But left the beehive above Eupen-Malmedy. And over the radio they heared it would make a crashlanding. Al the flying crew was killed in the crash. and eventualy burried with Military honour at a Brussels cemetary.
Regards,
Beelaert Geert, research B-65 Maldegem, Belgium
22. November 2022 access_time 23:25
my grandmother was married to the pilot Dick Smith. she always wanted to know the circumstances of his death. she would of loved to see the information I’ve found on the web. unfortunately she passed away in 2000. I searched for information before her death but I could not find anything. thanks for keeping his memory alive. those men were so brave and so young. God bless you all
13. September 2022 access_time 11:27
Dear,
On this photo you can see behind Geronimo B-17 Rovin Ramona 476.
Regards,
Geert Beelaert research B-65 Maldegem
02. August 2024 access_time 19:19
she was a fantastic bomber.
my uncle was part of that first crew in September of 43.
he was the bombardier/togglingfrom September thru December 1943.
he flew the majority of his missions there (25) with the 24th almost his last when flak took out an engine and they dropped out of formation.
with the help of supporting gunfire from the squadron, they fought their way into the clouds and made it back home.
it would take a month to repair her, but she flew many missions until that day in July.
after she went down, my uncle didn’t talk to anybody for a few days.
he grieved for the loss of his old bomber, and grieved the loss of the crew that he had never known.