Production-block:
B-17G-15-BO: 42-31332 to 42-31431
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 447th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 710th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 2891
History of
B-17 42-31431
Delivered Cheyenne 4/11/43; Assigned 710BS/447BG Rattlesden 23/12/43; Missing in Action Regensburg 25/2/44 with Merlin Chardi, Co-pilot: Capt Campbell Palfrey, Navigator: Dewayne Pohl, Bombardier: Frank Stumpf, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Sheppard, Radio Operator: Rich Adams, Ball turret gunner: Jim Magruder, Waist gunner: John Leonard, Waist gunner: Ernie Lacross,Tail gunner: Larry House (10 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Ottweiler, between Alschbach & Niederwurzbach, nine miles E of Saarbrucken, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2891.
Last updated: 2. November 2021
B-17 42-31431 Details
Aircraft was observed hit by flak at 4919N – 0721E at 1253 hours. Engine #1 was hit and on fire and pilot pulled out of formation. Ten chutes were observed and aircraft was then seen to break up.
B-17 42-31431 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Merlin L. Chardi | POW | - |
| CP | CPT | Campbell Palfrey, Jr. | POW | GP OPS O |
| NAV | 1LT | Dewayne W. Pohl | POW | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | Frank L. Stumpf | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Ray E. Sheppard | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Richard M. Adams | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | James E. Magruder | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | John W. Leonard | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Ernest W. Lacross | POW | - |
| TG | 2LT | Lawrence M. House | POW | - |
11. December 2023 access_time 21:48
The commentary on this bird is confusing. Ottweiler is nowhere near Niederwuerzbach or Alschbach, and the claimed crash site by the locals is Alschbach. There are still some alive who played on the wreck. The county plans to erect a memorial on the crash site 25 Feb 24, 80 years later. Anyone who can point me to a site they know that has coordinates?
14. February 2024 access_time 15:48
I happen to come across this webpage.
Do you know this link : http://www.flugzeugabstuerze-saarland.de/html/alschbach.html ?
It contains some very detailed accounts of what happened. I think you can have the German texts translated by Google.
Actually, I have lived at Niederwuerzbach for more than 45 years, and I believe I heard about this bomber crash from locals (I was not myself born here).
Feel free to contact me. As a boy, I was very much interested in aircraft and, as you see, I sometimes come back to this area of interest.
I will try to keep you informed if and when that memorial is inaugurated (would you mind letting me have your email address?).
Have a good time and take care,
Wolfgang.
P.S.: I put the pointer of Google Maps on the area (hill plateau about 300 meters high) between Niederwuerzbach, Alschbach and Lautzkirchen where the B-17 seems to have crashed. It gave me the following coordinates:
49°14’29.1″N 7°13’10.8″E. Does that help you?
22. February 2024 access_time 23:13
I am Klaus Ruffing. Born 06.12.1961. I made local History. I have some pictures from the plane B-17 crashed near Alschbach.
23. February 2024 access_time 11:49
Hallo Herr Ruffing,
können Sie mir die Bilder zur Verfügung stellen?
Meine Email: info@b17flyingfortress.de
Vielen Dank!
Grüße
Jing Zhou