| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-120-BO: 42-30732 to 42-30831 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 306th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 369th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | WW-D |
| MACR | 814 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (14 October 1943) |
History of
B-17 42-30811
Delivered Cheyenne 4/8/43; Gr Isle 12/8/43; Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-D] Thurleigh 2/9/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 14/10/43 with Ralph Peters, Co-pilot: Ed Hughel, Navigator: Dan Peterson, Bombardier: Jim Vaughter, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Grimm, Radio Operator: Manford John, Ball turret gunner: Dick Kern, Waist gunner: Blair Steed, Waist gunner: Dan Piedmont,Tail gunner: Pierre Noisat (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft KO’d #2, crashed Bellheim, near Schweinfurt, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 814.
B-17 42-30811 Details
Flight log of John Earley, a British Royal Navy sailer of the test flight in #42-30811, 10 days before the Schweinfurt-Raid. #42-30811 was a brand new aircraft, which arrived the 306th BG at Thurleigh one week before and wasn’t fully tested. More see comments below. Photo: © Nicholas Earley
This page was last updated on 25 November 2018
22. November 2018 access_time 14:08
My Father, John Earley must have been the only serving Royal Navy rating during WW2 to travel in a B17 Flying Fortress aircraft serial No 42-30811 based at 306th Bombardment Group at Thurleigh UK . His Sister Catherine Earley (my Aunt ) married a Crew Chief Herbert McGary and so Mac arranged for my Father to go up in one of the newly arrived B17 bombers for a 2 hour test flight on 4th October 1943 along the coast prior to a bombing raid the following week over Schweinfurt Germany. Sadly the plane was shot down during the Schweinfurt raid the following week 14th October 1943 with all crew reported MIA . Tail gunner: Pierre Noisat was the only original member from the test flight crew who flew in 42-30811 on the Schweinfurt raid.
I have the original Flight Log of 42-30811 test flight on 4th Oct 1943 with all crew listed if you would be interested in a scanned copy
10. November 2024 access_time 23:14
My grandfather’s sister was married to Pierre Noisat. I would move a cooy of the test flight and anything else you may have on the air radt, the crew capture, where they were held as POWs, etc.
11. November 2024 access_time 10:53
Hi. thank you for your message. I’m afraid I am unable to add any further information about Pierre Noisat . I have my late Father’s original copy of the Test Flight crew log of the Bomber which included Pierre Noisat which I posted above. Through some research on the Net I found out about the first Mission of 42-30811 which included Pierre in the crew and that he was the only survivor of the plane crash and captured as a POW . I wish that I had more information for you I will do a search and see what I can find . best wishes John Earley
11. November 2024 access_time 11:07
I found this WiKi database link that might lead to further information . https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/216214 My Father was gifted with a full B-17F flying suit and goggles etc after the Test Flight,sadly nothing now remains. I was given the Bomber Jacket and goggles in 1967 which I used on my scooter but even that has since been lost in subsequent house moves . Good luck in your search John
14. November 2024 access_time 12:26
In response to a recent request for further information about 42-30811 I found some interesting documents including some information about Pierre Noisat (rear gunner) , his bombing mission report and a crew photo. However I see no way that I can add these images to this thread which is a shame .