B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31366 / Old Outhouse – Never A Dry Run aka Snake Eyes

History of
B-17 42-31366 / Old Outhouse – Never A Dry Run aka Snake Eyes

Delivered Cheyenne 25/10/43; Walla Walla 9/11/43; Assigned 731BS/452BG Deopham Green 3/1/44; Missing in Action Kaltenkirchen 7/4/45 with Dave Owens, Co-pilot: Jim Smouse, Navigator: Gene Ahrens, Bombardier: John Kennedy, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Phil Ellis, Radio Operator: Frank Rudinsky, Ball turret gunner: Don Phelps, Waist gunner: Bill Auferoth,Tail gunner: Marion Rodgers (9 Killed in Action); mid air coll with Me 109, crashed Stadthagen, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 13886. OLD OUTHOUSE – NEVER A DRY RUN aka SNAKE EYES.

Last updated: 24. July 2023

B-17 42-31366 / Old Outhouse – Never A Dry Run aka Snake Eyes Details

Following statement obtained by S-2 Section, 452nd Bomb Group, at interrogation after return of mission:

Aircraft No. 42-31366 from the 452nd “A”, was crashed in the nose by a spinning ME-109 at about 1259 hours near 52°30″N – 09°20″E. Everything forward of the top turret disintegrated and what remained of the plane dove straight down. Three men fell out burning and 2 to 5 chutes were seen to open.

Source: MACR 13886

B-17 42-31366 / Old Outhouse – Never A Dry Run aka Snake Eyes Crew