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Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17G-25-BO: 42-31632 to 42-31731
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 91st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 322nd Bomb Squadron
- RCL: LG-B
MACR: 8183
Missions: 76
History of
B-17 42-31673 / Lassie Come Home aka Black Magic
Delivered Cheyenne 6-Dec-43; Kearney 17-Dec-43; Harrisburg 8-Jan-44; New Castle 9-Jan-43; Presque Is 11-Jan-44; Prestwick 16-Jan-44; Assigned 96BG Snetterton 16-Jan-44; transferred 322BS/91BG [LG-B] Bassingbourn 27-Jan-44. On 16-Aug-44 the aircraft was on a mission to attack the aircraft factories at Halle, Germany. Attacked by approximately 25 enemy aircraft, setting the radio room in fire and exploding in mid-air. Crashed Deiderode, SW of Gottingen, Germany. (one of six aircraft lost in about 30 secs). 4KIA 5POW Missing Air Crew Report 8183. Aircraft had logged 76 missions.
Last updated: 25. March 2024
B-17 42-31673 / Lassie Come Home aka Black Magic Details
Also known as ‘Black Magic’ before it renamed to Lassie Come Home
Description to the loss of B-17 #42-31673 / Lassie Come Home
Aircraft B-17G #42-31673, was one of six (6) aircraft Missing in Action, 16 August 1944, on mission to Halle, Germany. This group was attacked by approximately twenty-five (25) enemy fighters at 1000 hours, altitude 25,400 feet, East of Eisenach, Germany. During this attack, which lasted 20 or 30 seconds, four (4) of our aircraft were seen to have been shot down. As this was the only fighter attack made on this group it is presumed by this headquarters that subject aircraft was also lost at this time. No eyewitness statement is available.
Source: MACR 8183
B-17 42-31673 / Lassie Come Home aka Black Magic Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Leonard F. Figie | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Dale W. Whitson | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Frederick Seibel | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Walter L. Carpenter | POW | - |
| RO | SGT | Edmund J. Mikolatis | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | Frederick D. Baldwin | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Walter Salo | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | John F. Wallaszek | POW | - |
| TOG | S/SGT | Harlon B. Williams | POW | - |
29. November 2023 access_time 20:55
I wanted to let you know that the men pictured in front of Lassie Come Home are not the men that went down with the plane when it was shot down. The men pictured above maned the bomber before the crew that was shot down.
Here is a list of the pilots in the picture:
Back Row – Left to Right
Homer Glass, Navigator; 1st Lt. Louis LaHood, Pilot; Joe Stolber, Co-pilot; Manuel Canter, Bombardier
Front Row – Left to Right
Gail Garner, Ball Turret; Ernest Ellington, Waist Gunner; John Anding, Engineer; Bob Megchelsen, Tail Gunner; Bob Hettinger, Waist Gunner; Norman Mansfield, Radio Operator
The waist gunner, Ernest Ellington was my great uncle (grandmother’s brother).