| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-20-BO: 42-31432 to 42-31631 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 457th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 748th Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 6926 |
| Fate: |
, Battle damaged, interned (12 July 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-31552 / My Buddy
Delivered Denver 21/11/43; Gt Falls 25/11/43; Wendover 12/12/43; Assigned 748BS/457BG [ -H] Glatton 26/1/44; damaged in return from mission crash landed base 4/5/44 Waist gunner: Edwin Waggoner (Killed in Service– in the crash); Missing in Action Munich 12/7/44 with Gerald Kerr, Co-pilot: Art Lindskoog, Navigator: Ed Schilling, Bombardier: Milton Levine (4 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ernie Hegedus, Ball turret gunner: Sam Younger, Waist gunner: Harry Ahlfors,Tail gunner: Don Boyle (4 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Leon Finneran (INT); flak KO’d two engines, then a third was lost and bail out order readied, crashed Pratigau, near Davos, Switz; Missing Air Crew Report 6926. MY BUDDY.
B-17 42-31552 / My Buddy Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Gerald L. Kerr | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Arthur H. Lindskoog | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Edward A. Schilling | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Melvin L. Levine | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Leon Finnera | INT | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Ernest J. Hegedus | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Samuel P. Younger, Jr. | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Harold E. Ahlfors | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Donald B. Boyle | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 01 March 2018
31. May 2021 access_time 12:22
any information possible about this crash site –my father was crew member –a piece of that plane was sent to me years ago by swiss hiker – i lost contact with him –thanks
28. April 2022 access_time 17:24
I have visited the site 2x and know exactly where it is above the Schlappin Valley, near Klosters, Switzerland if you are interested. It is a few hundred meters off of a marked trail. FB
12. April 2023 access_time 17:51
My father was the first at the crash site, 2 days after the crash. I have been many time at the crash site, most the big parts have been collected, however turning the stones over, smaller pieces can still be found
04. December 2023 access_time 18:31
Hi Gerald, it’s so good to hear from you again. I guess that was me. I still have the letter from you and your wife. It would be nice to get in touch again. A lot has happened in the meantime. I look forward talking to you. Stefan
04. December 2023 access_time 18:44
Gerald, did you see our facebook page on the continuouing restauration of sections of your fathers plane? https://www.facebook.com/457th.Swiss.B17
22. May 2022 access_time 17:02
Hi,
I would be interested in getting any information on the wreck + crew for a report for the Swiss TV.
Gerald, have you planned/are you planning to go?
Best,
Christopher Shand,
LuxAltius.com
04. December 2023 access_time 18:51
Hi Christopher, Swiss National TV 10 years ago did make a short news feature about the beginning of our restauration efforts of sections of this aircraft but did not visit the crash site. In the other feature we visited the crash site of another B-17 nearby.
https://www.srf.ch/play/tv/schweiz-aktuell/video/bomber-leidenschaft?urn=urn:srf:video:0183cbcd-d534-452f-8c3c-563b21707cf4