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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.
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