zoom_in
Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17G-20-BO: 42-31432 to 42-31631
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 94th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 331st Bomb Squadron
- RCL: QE-A
MACR: 4946 / KSU/ME/KU: 1892
History of
B-17 42-31540 / Miss Donna Mae II
Delivered Cheyenne 16/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Cleveland 9/12/43; Syracuse 11/12/43; Presque Is 15/12/43; Prestwick 19/12/43; Assigned 331BS/94BG [QE-A] Rougham 20/12/43; Missing in Action Berlin 19/5/44 with Marion Reid, Co-pilot: Lew Carter, Navigator: Roger Tessier, Bombardier: Stan Duffield, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lee Kieffer, Radio Operator: John Boone, Ball turret gunner: Ludwig Huth, Waist gunner: Jim Kalahar, Waist gunner: Dick Brennan,Tail gunner: Willard Christensen, obs-T/Sgt John Davis (11 Killed in Action); hit by bombs from 42-97791 (94BG) above knocking off left horizontal stabilizer, then wing broke off as it spun to earth, crashed Oderbergerstrasse, Berlin, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 4946. MISS DONNA MAE.
Last updated: 20. May 2024
B-17 42-31540 / Miss Donna Mae II Details
Was hit by a 1000 lb bomb of the B-17 #42-97791 ‘Trudy‘ and going down. All 11 crew member were killed.
B-17 42-31540 / Miss Donna Mae II Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Marion U. Reid | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Lewis T. Carter | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Roger F. Tessier | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Stanley D. Duffield | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Lee Z. Kieffer | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | John F. Boone | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Ludwig H. Huth | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | James A. Kalahar | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Richard E. Brennan | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Willard M. Christensen | KIA | - |
| --- | T/SGT | John B. Davis | KIA | RO |
03. June 2019 access_time 14:33
Umm…it doesn’t change the story, but please correct the statement where it says the “knocking off left rudder” – it was the left horizontal stabilizer.
It has only ONE rudder and it’s still 100% intact, as one can see from the photos.
This is an easy fix on your part!
03. June 2019 access_time 16:27
Thank you Tom!
I fixed it 🙂
22. October 2019 access_time 16:50
My uncle was the tail gunner. I have done a lot of research on this aircraft. very fascinating. May Uncle Willard and the rest of the crew R.I.P.
20. January 2020 access_time 7:37
Hi Kent! Willard is my great uncle and my dad is now a military historian. We would love it if you could send some of the research you have of the plane and Willard.
14. February 2020 access_time 4:19
Jonathan, I have Willard’s watch he gave my dad Manley J Christensen, Willard’s youngest brother. the watch still runs and also have his High School letter in Basketball from Osnabrock.
email me anytime
13. September 2022 access_time 11:26
Hello Jonathan,
Christensen was my great uncle also. Would love to chat. May I call you?
Joe McGriff
435-813-8623
Central Utah
23. February 2022 access_time 17:32
Hi Kent, Willard Christensen was my great uncle. My mother told us about this story when we were young kids. It always fascinated me and made me sad about what happened. My moms father and my grandfather Tony Christensen was supposed to be on that flight. The story goes that Willard Christiansen switched missions with his brother Tony Christensen who was also a tail gunner in the B-17. They went into the military together, trained together and stayed together during their missions as tail gunners. My mother said that my grandfather was never the same after the war. It’s hard to imagine what they went through during the war. We stand on the shoulders of giants. They are all heroes.
13. September 2022 access_time 11:23
Hi Kent, Willard Christensen was my great uncle also. Would love to chat. May I call you?
Joe McGriff
435-813-8623
Central Utah
20. February 2020 access_time 14:04
My family lost (ENG/TT T/SGT Lee Z. (Zane) Kieffer KIA) He was from Arcadia, Ohio (Washington Township of Hancock County). Lived in a farm house just north of town. Graduated from Arcadia High School.
12. February 2024 access_time 16:45
Hi Rob! It has been a VERY long time! If you want to stay in contact my Email is bonniesueep@gmail.com, I don’t have social media.
20. August 2024 access_time 3:53
Cpl. Keiffer has an incredible tombstone in that cemetery, which I am sure you are aware of.
I’m an old Arcadia guy myself.
24. September 2020 access_time 16:50
Back in the 90’s I met the photographer of the B-17 Trudy. He was on a mission on the bombing run approach. Another B-17 drifted into “Trudy” from the right. To late as the bombs dropped. The ball turret gummer was the photographer. “Miss Donna Mae” when down, spun, lost a wing, crashed nobody got out. When they returned the pilots of “Trudy were coart masheled but the photographer prooved that Miss Donna Mae was out of position. They on “Trudy” were cleared of any wrong doing. 1st. lt. Reid was a new replacement pilot. Just an accident. Sad but true.
24. September 2020 access_time 19:42
Thank you for this information. These kind of accident happened several time.
20. December 2023 access_time 6:14
Mr. Jimenez, i Have Seen This Photograph Since The Early ’60s. i Have Always Thought Of This Accident As A Tragedy.
Until Now, i Did Not Know Any Of The Details That Led To This Catastrophe And Its Solemn End.
Thank You For Shedding Light On This
“Average” Day During WW2 !!!
David G Zamora
CW2, US Army ( Ret. ), Aviation
TH–55 UH–1 OH–58 TH–67
Flight Instructor
Edinburg Texas
😪😪😪 🌠 ⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️ 🇺🇲
31. December 2023 access_time 16:49
My wife Great uncle was the navigator 2 LT Roger Tessier
15. January 2024 access_time 1:49
John Davis was my uncle this was very hard on his younger brothers one in german prisoner of war and one fighting Japanese
12. February 2024 access_time 6:13
Hello all! My grandfather was first cousins with Lee Zane Kieffer. It was a tremendous loss for him. He talked about him until the end of his life. My mother and i are interested in corresponding with the other members of the planes families. I just want to know more about the men that shared their last moments with Zane. Thank you.
24. May 2024 access_time 19:43
My Uncle was S/Sgt Richard E Brennan…
as the first male Brennan born after the War, I am named ‘Richard’ in his honor.
We should all pause and remember WHAT these men were fighting for…