| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-30-DL: 42-3149 to 42-3188 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 351st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 511th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | DS-R |
| MACR | 15581 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft, Lost by flak/aa-fire (15 May 1943) |
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History of
B-17 42-3173 / Spare Ball
Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 511BS/351BG [DS-R] Polebrook 19/4/43; Missing in Action 1m Wilhelmshaven 15/5/43 with Joe Meli, Co-pilot: Bob Cooper, Navigator: Jack Howell, Bombardier: Howard Lewis, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dewey Bishop, Radio Operator: Melvin Hugo, Ball turret gunner: Louis Hilscher, Waist gunner: Stanford Henry, Waist gunner: Chas Summers,Tail gunner: Bern Guenzig (10 Killed in Action); flak damage and attack by Bf 109G from above, 5/6 chutes were seen, then ditched North Sea about 40 miles NE of Borkum, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 15581. SPARE BALL.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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This page was last updated on 12 July 2017
03. August 2018 access_time 2:25
My great uncle was on that plane. Does anyone have a lead on any photos or nose art?
30. April 2024 access_time 7:03
does anyone have any pictures of the crew infront of the bomber. I would loved to get my hands on one. my great great uncle was Lt. Robert P. Cooper. I was named after him and would love a few pictures of him
10. November 2025 access_time 2:53
I am related to Robert P. Cooper a first cousin of my Grandfather
16. November 2025 access_time 3:14
My uncle, Jack Howell was navigator on the Spareball. It is my understanding that they were downed by a Bf-109 pilot named Helmut Lennartz. He survived the war and was an Me-262 pilot. I am not aware of any photos of the “Spareball”