B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31097 / Mission Belle

History of
B-17 42-31097 / Mission Belle

Delivered Cheyenne 20/9/43; Gt Falls 12/10/43; Scott 18/11/43; assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 19/11/43; transferred 535BS/381BG Ridgewell 21/11/43; Missing in Action (1st mission for this aircraft) Leverkusen 1/12/43 with Pilot Harland V. Sunde (KIA – body recovered 12/6/44); Ball turret gunner: Doyle C. Mc Cutchen (KIA; body recovered from river 30/5/44); Tail gunner: John F. Healey (KIA). Co-pilot: James W. Sweaney; Navigator: Roger G.Christensen; Bombardier: O.D. Tully; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: William P. England; Radio Operator: Claudio Carano; Right Waist gunner: Charles J. Culver; Left Waist gunner Carlton A. Josephson (those 7 Prisoner of War). Missing Air Crew Report 1661.

Last updated: 17. August 2018

B-17 42-31097 / Mission Belle Details

Flak, left formation a few minutes before hitting the target and was attacked by fighters. Shot down by Unteroffizier Albert Brett (7./JG 1) in a Me 109.

B-17 42-31097 / Mission Belle Crew

Related web sites about the B-17 42-31097 / Mission Belle

1. https://hazy.home.xs4all.nl/Crew.html
2. http://www.missionbelle.nl/