B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31749

History of
B-17 42-31749

Delivered Cheyenne 10/12/43; Gt Falls 20/12/43; Oklahoma City 6/1/44; Love Fd 15/1/44; Maxwell 16/1/44; Savannah 18/1/44; Homestead 28/1/44; Assigned 20BS/2BG Amendola 28/1/44; Missing in Action Villaorba 18/3/44 with Willard Butler, Co-pilot: Bob Drake, Navigator: Chas Evert, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Martin Hutchinson, Radio Operator: Paul Henderson, Ball turret gunner: Jim Hawton, Waist gunner: Cantello Strickland, Waist gunner: Andy McCrossan,Tail gunner: Horace Maddux (9 Killed in Action); Navigator: Adam Pyzyna (Prisoner of War); Ju88 shot off tail with rocket; one chute seen, crashed on Cres Island; Missing Air Crew Report 3257.

Last updated: 25. September 2020

B-17 42-31749 Details

Statement of S/Sgt. William F. Corbin, right waist gunner on B-17 number 42-5440, flying in the first wave, fourth Squadron, 2nd element, third plane.

B-17 number 42-31749 was leading our element and on our right wing. I saw plane number 749 get it’s left stabilizer shot away. Enemy fighters were attacking us at the time and when I looked again number 749 was going down in a spin. I did not see any parachutes come out of the plane.

S/Sgt. William F. Corbin
Air Corps

Sgt. J. E. Bills, tail gunner on B-17 number 42-5772, 20th Squadron which was flying in the forth squadron, second element, lead plane.

Our squadron was attacked by four Ju-88’s which were at six o’clock level, firing rockets. I believe the tail section of plane No. 749 had substained one or more hits by 20mm cannon fire just previously to the time it was hit by the rocket. As the enemy fighters were firing rockets in turn, from right to left, I am of the opinion that it was the fourth rocket fired, in this particular encountor that hit plane No. 749. It exploded on contact and completely destroyed the left hotizontal stabilizer and most of the vertical stabilizer. The bomber’s nose immediately made a violent pull-up motion and then went into a movement similar to a chandelle and then began to fall in a falling leaf spin. At this time my guns jammed and I lost sight of the falling bomber. I saw no chutes leave the aircraft.

Sgt. J. E. Bills
Air Corps

Statement of 2nd Lt. William E. Mitchell, Navigator on B-17 #42-5440, flying in the first wave, fourth Squadron, second element, number three.

At 0942 hours I saw B-17 number 42-31749 receive a direct hit from what I believe to have been a rocket from an enemy fighter plane, as we were being attacked at the time. Number 749 was hit hard and I saw that the left stabilizer had been shot away.

Number 749 went over on it’s back and immediately fell of in a spin. I did not see any parachutes come out. B-17 number 749 went down at approximately 45-20 North and 14-25 East.

2Lt. William E. Mitchell
Air Corps

Statement of S/Sgt. Orvel W. Buechner, 20th Squadron, upper turret gunner on B-17 #42-5440, flying in the first wave, fourth Squadron, second element, third plane.

I was flying in the upper turret and I saw plane number 42-31749 get a burst in the left stabilizer, which shot it away. The plane immediately winged over and started down in a spin. I didn’t see a single parachute come out, as I soon lost sight of the plane. Enemy fighters were attacking us at the time and we were pretty budy.

S/Sgt. Orvel W. Buechner
Air Corps

T/Sgt. Raymond L. Terrel, engineer gunner on B-17 No. 42-5772 which was flying in the fourth squadron, second element, lead plane.

When fighters attacked our formation, eight Ju-88’s came in from 6 o’clock level. Four of them attacked our squadron and the other four attacked squadron number three. From a distance of approximately 600 yards the Ju-88’s began firing rockets at the formation. From my observations I would say that the enemy fires one rocket at a time, and each enemy fighter took turns firing in a right to left order. I believe that the third or fourth rocket fired substained a direct hit on the tail section of plane N. 42-31749 and exploded on contact. The explosion destroyed the left horizontal stabilizer and most of the vertical stabilizer. Plane No. 749 immediately made a violent nose-up that resembled a chandelle. It then went into a falling leaf spin and I lost sight of it as it fell out of my field of vision. I saw no chutes leave the aircraft as it was falling.

T/Sgt. Raymond L. Terrel
Air Corps

S/Sgt. Steward H. Brash, radio gunner of B-17 No. 42-5772, 20th Squadron which was flying in the fourth squadron, second element, lead plane.

I was watching four Ju-88’s attacking the rear aircraft of our squadron. They were attacking from six o’clock, level, and were staying out at about 800 to 1000 yards, firing rockets at the squadron. Each Ju-88 carried four rockets, two under each wing.

I saw four rockets fired, furing the first encounter, and am of the opinion that aircraft No. 42-31749 was hit by the third or fourth rocket fire. When fired, the rockets seemed to travel a spiral motion, and the one that hit the tail section of No. 749 exploded on contact and completely destroyed the left horizont stabilizer and most of the vertical stabilizer. The plane immediately made a violent nose up as if going into a chandelle and appeared as though it was going to fall in an upside-down position. I lost sight of it at this time and never saw it afterwards. I saw no chutes leave the plane.

S/Sgt. Steward H. Brash
Air Corps

B-17 42-31749 Crew