| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-20-BO: 42-31432 to 42-31631 |
| Delievered: | Denver |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 306th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 368th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | BO-D |
| MACR | 4240 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | KU-1665 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (29 April 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-31556
Delivered Denver 21/11/43; Gr Island 3/12/43; Kearney 8/12/43; Presque Is 10/12/43; Assigned: 368BS/306BG [BO-D] Thurleigh 4/1/44; MIA Berlin 29/4/44 Pilot: Warren Lutz, Co-Pilot: Tom Johnson, Navigator: Ed O’Neill, Bombardier: Jim Knox, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Warren Adams, Radio Operator: Joe Reed, Ball Turret Gunner: Roy Ward & brother Waist Gunner: Ray Ward (8KIA); Waist Gunner: Alec Lazek, Tail Gunner: Chas Lux (2POW); flak hits damaged right wing and cut fuel lines, ship crashed two miles S of Hecklingen, near Stassfurt, 20 miles E of Halberstadt, Germany. MACR 4240.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-31556 Details
According to 2nd Lt. Richard D. Buttorff, eye-witness and Pilot of an aircraft in the same formation, the following is an account of what occurred on 29 April, 1944, to Aircraft No. 42-31556:
At approximately 1225 hours, near Magdeburg, Germany, Lt. Lutz was hit by flak. The cover of the whole right wing seemed to be stripped off, he peeled up over the lead, rolled over and went down straight enveloped in flames. No chutes were observed.
Source: MACR 4240
B-17 42-31556 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Warren S. Lutz | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Thomas W. Johnson | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Edward P. O'Neill | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | James L. Knox | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Warren J. Adams | KIA | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Joe D. Reed | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | Roy Y. Ward | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Aleck A. Lasek | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Ray Y. Ward | KIA | - |
| TG | SGT | Charles H. Lux | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 01 March 2026
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