Production-block:
B-17G-20-BO: 42-31432 to 42-31631
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 2nd Bomb Group
- 99th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 348th Bomb Squadron
- 429th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 6564
History of
B-17 42-31470 / Old Shep
Delivered Cheyenne 4/11/43; Gr Island 27/11/43; Assigned 348BS/99BG Tortorella 29/12/43; {23m} transferred 429BS/2BG Amendola 28/3/44; Missing in Action Blechammer, Ger. 7/7/44 with Driscoll Horton, Co-pilot: Peter Beers (2 evaded capture); Navigator: Bob McAdams, Bombardier: John Schmitthenner{Wounded in Action}, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Hurley, Ball turret gunner: Floyd Tickner, Waist gunner: Ray Murphy{Wounded in Action}, Waist gunner: Jim Osborn,Tail gunner: Vincent Sodaro (6 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Bob Stewart (RIP, died in Wetzler POW camp); #2 engine feathered. crashed St Micheil, Austria; Missing Air Crew Report 6564. OLD SHEP.
Last updated: 17. August 2017
14. January 2019 access_time 20:55
My grandfather, Gordon LaRue, flew 25 missions as the ball turret gunner on “Ole Shep” as part of the 429th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group, 15th Airforce. They flew out of Amendola Airbase in Foggia, Italy, from March to July of 1944. Luckily for my family, my grandfather and his crew were not on board Ole Shep when it was shot down on 7/7/44.