Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-20-BO: 42-31432 to 42-31631 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 305th Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 365th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | XK-M |
| Fate: |
, Returned to the USA (07 July 1945) |
| Missions: | 114 |
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History of
B-17 42-31480 / Reich’s Ruin
Delivered Cheyenne 10/11/43; Kearney 28/11/43; Gr Island 4/12/43; Romulus 5/12/43; Presque Is 10/12/43; Assigned 365BS/305BG Chelveston 27/12/43; transferred 401BG Deenethorpe 20/5/45; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 7/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 9/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 8/12/45. REICH’S RUIN.
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This page was last updated on 19 October 2018
31. May 2019 access_time 17:09
Dean Sanner (pilot), back row second from left, was my dad’s cousin. Served in WW2, Korea and Vietnam. He completed 35 missions in Reich’s Ruin, was then transferred to recon, where he flew a de Haviland Mosquito (MM370 I think) His plane went down during an Operation Aphrodite mission on the Harve U-boat pens in France (the day after Joseph Kennedy was killed in the same mission series) He was captured on Aug 14, 1944 and spent the remainder of the war a POW. My dad told me the bare bones of this story many times, but I discovered the details only after searching for records online.
12. July 2022 access_time 5:10
Hello Robert. I’m Caroline. Dean Sanner is my great grandfather on my mother’s side. His daughter is my grandmother.
05. January 2020 access_time 22:43
FYI, Dean Sanner was “co-pilot” on Reich’s Ruin. Harold “Pop” Wiley (1st on left, back row in photo) was the pilot.
L-R: Front Row:
“Smitty” (Crew Chief); Omer “Van” Van Huylenbrouck (Tail gunner); John (Villalobos) Villard (Radio Operator); Everett “Mac” McKean (Waist Gunner); George Little (Ball Turret); Sam Johnson (Waist Gunner).
L-R: Rear Row: Harold “Pop” Wiley (Pilot); Dean H. Sanner (Co-pilot); Stephen Musolino (Navigator); Jerry Kreske (Bombardier); Julian Wesley (Engineer).
Omer Van Huylenbrouck was my Great-Uncle. Sadly, he just passed away this year, 02JAN2020 (97 years old). Hi had the pleasure of knowing him all my life, and was also able to meet Harold “Pop” Wiley and John (Villalobos) Villard at the SEP2003 305th Bomb Group reunion in Louisville, KY.
05. January 2020 access_time 22:46
PS: Omer Van Huylenbrouck was the last surviving crew member of those shown in the photo.
06. January 2020 access_time 11:17
Thank you for sharing these information and I am very sorry about your family’s loss of Omer Van Huylenbrouck.
17. March 2020 access_time 19:01
I knew Sam Johnson all my teenage life early; He was my grand dads best friend. He gave me the original photo of the one shown here, Reichs ruin. He also gave me a set of R.A.F. WW2 bomber front tires. A very nice man.
30. August 2020 access_time 17:18
Thanks for the clarification. I only met Dean Sanner once so my dad and his mother were my only living sources on the subject and they’re both long passed. Internet sources said pilot but some of you knew crew members so that’s obviously the better source. Most of the sources I found refer to his recon record where he piloted MM370 so that may be where it gets mixed up.
Thank you.
24. February 2020 access_time 5:31
Julian Wesley is my uncle. His name is on a veterans monument in Iola Wisconsin. Thanks for your site.
10. January 2021 access_time 5:45
He was my grandfather and the finest man I have ever known truly the apidemy of what was known as the greatest generation.
14. December 2025 access_time 1:44
Julian Wesley was my grandfather. Grandpa set the standard for what it means to be a good man—honest, hardworking, and selfless. He always kept his word, helped anyone who needed it, and served his country with pride. I’m grateful to carry his legacy with me.
28. June 2020 access_time 1:46
Below is pilot Harold Wiley’s obituary (back row left). I knew Harold most of my life. When I was working on getting my pilot’s license it was Harold who helped my perfect my landing. Harold enjoyed flying all of his life. He always had a smile, was kind to all and he is missed.
First Lieutenant Harold Joseph Wiley
Posted: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 9:55 pm
VALLEY FALLS, Rensselaer County – First Lieutenant Harold Joseph Wiley, took his final mission at home surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010.
He was born in Johnsonville, N.Y., on March 14, 1919, to the late Leonard and Alice Sherman Wiley.
Harold served in the Air Force from 1941 to 1945, as a pilot of a B-17 Bomber in World War II the European Theater, he flew 29 missions.
In 1946, Harold and his brother, Abbott opened Wiley Brothers Store in Valley Falls. A new store was opened in 1965, at the current location in Schaghticoke. Harold dearly loved his family and his church. He was a thirty year member of the Hoosic Valley Community Church.
Harold is survived by his wife of 62 years, Doris Shultes Wiley. His five children; June (Bill) Carey, Janet (Rich) Entwistle, Flo Sickels, Sandra (John) Onderdonk, and Hal (Dianne) Wiley Jr.; A brother, Abbott Wiley; a sister, Ellen Wiley; 14 grandchildren; Michael, Tyler, Brent Carey, Eli and Jeremy Entwistle, Tara Thomas, Jay and Andrew Sickels, Jesse Wiley, Sam Onderdonk, Rebekah Hastings, Ellen O’Neil, Zachary and Issac Wiley; five great-grandchildren; Leila Sanobari, Ava Carey, Lauren and Addison Carey and Claire Entwistle. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Harold was predeceased by his grandson, Mark Wiley, brothers, Newt and Charles Wiley.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, at 1 p.m. at the Hoosic Valley Community Church, 2024 state Route 40, in Schaghticoke, with Pastor Clyde McCaskill officiating.
Burial services will be private and will take place at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
07. September 2022 access_time 5:38
Everett McKean Waist gunner. Front row 3rd from the right wearing a neck warmer. My uncle.
14. December 2025 access_time 1:54
Julian Wesley was my father. I had the honor of getting to know Harold “Pop” Wiley and Omer VanHuydenbrouk.
These men, along with their crew members, truly characterized the greatest generation. I never heard any of them speak of the horrors they had witnessed or the personal toll it must have taken to return to their lives after the war. They were wonderful husbands and fathers. To say thank you to all the servicemen and servicewoman is so inadequate-but it is said with all of my heart. I hope somehow my dad and his crew mates know they are still remembered, loved, appreciated and are ever in my heart. Thank you to the crew of Reichs Ruin – for bringing my father back home and giving me the most wonderful father and brothers I could have wished for.