| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-20-BO: 42-31432 to 42-31631 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 305th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 365th Bomb Squadron |
| Fate: |
, Lost by unknown reason (31 December 1943) |
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History of
B-17 42-31528
Delivered Denver 16/11/43; Kearney 2/12/43; New York 8/12/43; Presque Is 9/12/43; Assigned 365BS/305BG Chelveston 28/12/43; assigned Bordeaux 31/12/43 with John Quillman, Co-pilot: Ralph Blake, Navigator: John Repetti, Bombardier: Adolph Erikson (4 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Groenschen, Radio Operator: Bob Cove, Ball turret gunner: Everett Esch, Waist gunner: Pat McHugh, Waist gunner: John Vasos, Tail gunner: Martin McCormick (6 Returned to Duty); crash landed Ashridge, Hertfordshire, UK; Salvaged 2 SAD Lt Staughton 3/1/44.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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B-17 42-31528 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | John J. Quillman | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Ralph L. Blake | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Jean V. Rapetti | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Adolph L. Erickson | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Charles Groeschen | RTD | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Robert L. Cove | RTD | - |
| BT | SGT | Everett T. Esch | RTD | - |
| WG | SGT | Patrick C. McHugh | RTD | - |
| WG | SGT | John C. Vasos | RTD | - |
| TG | SGT | Martin A. McCormick | RTD | - |
This page was last updated on 16 October 2021
03. May 2019 access_time 21:12
My Uncle was LeRoy, ” Lee” Erickson (he didn’t go by Adolph) died on 12/31/1943, when the plane he was in as a bombardier crash landed and was on fire. I was born after he died, and a couple older siblings were only 3 and 4 when he died. Phillip Ory
03. August 2019 access_time 2:23
Phillip Ory,
My father, John Vasos, was the tail gunner on this aircraft. He was severely injured on December 31, 1943 and spent 4 months in hospital in Britain before returning to the US and more hospitalizations. Would be happy to exchange information about the crash; I visited the crash site a few years ago. Look for the 305th Bomb Group on facebook.
05. April 2023 access_time 19:41
My fathers brother was Jean Repetti a navigator on that plane 6 crewmen lived an a nurse heard the crash Daley an saved them what happened to the 4 crewmen
13. December 2019 access_time 17:29
Hi,
I would really like to know more about this crew and aircraft. Do you remember the name of the plane and have any images? I live near Ashridge and regularly walk up there. I never knew about this B17 until recently when i have started doing a bit of research about the area and WW2. I have a good idea where the aircraft sadly came down and going to visit it. I am surprised there isn’t a plaque in the spot where the B17 came down.
Strangely another aircraft came down maybe 400m away from the same spot in the 50s. There are also 2 impact sites apparently of a V1 and V2 in the same area.
09. May 2020 access_time 17:08
I visited this site on a few occasions, first time was approx 20 years ago, whilst walking along we started to find small fragments of airframe. One piece I picked up was laying face down on the ground, turned it over to find it was one of the supercharger tank drain panels from near the engine cowling in grey with blue letter stencil abbreviated indicating the tank drain. Also a site glass possibly from a gun or bomb site. Fantastic piece of history!
16. October 2021 access_time 6:53
In an article from his hometown newspaper my dad named the four other planes he served on. Unfortunately the article didn’t include the name of this 5th and final craft. I have also visited the site which was very moving.
24. February 2023 access_time 16:19
My fathers brother Jean V Repetti was in the USAAF stationed in England on a B17-bomber an was navigator in the aircraft he was 23 years old an coming back from France Bordeaux crashed landed at Herefordshire England he was a 2nd Lt Near Aldbury 🇬🇧 I want to know if this lady heard the plane go crash in the area named RubyDaley she gone over to help the 6 people survive the crash was that the same plane she had helped 4 people died in the crash Jean was one of them the pilot an co-pilot was Kia John j Quillman R Blake Leroy Erickson an Jean thanks for your reply thanks again
02. January 2024 access_time 1:45
According to a British newspaper article my father had, Mrs. Daley was sitting with her mother (in Aldbury) and heard the crash .