B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31762 / Junior aka Crash Wagon III

History of
B-17 42-31762 / Junior aka Crash Wagon III

Delivered Denver 12/12/43; Gt Falls 16/12/43; Denver 20/12/43; Kearney 31/12/43; RAF Nutts Corner 15/1/44; Assigned 551BS/385BG [HR-M] Gt Ashfield 17/1/44; Missing in Action French A/fds 12/6/44 with Loren Jackson, Co-pilot: Ross Blake, Bombardier: Joe Haught, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Armando Marsili, Radio Operator: Ervin Pickrel, Ball turret gunner: Felipe Muquiz, Waist gunner: Fred Martini, Waist gunner: Sam Pennell,Tail gunner: Theo Dubenic (9 Prisoner of War); Navigator: Gerald Shaffer (Killed in Action); flak, crashed Farceaux, 20 miles SE of Rouen, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 5628. JUNIOR aka CRASH WAGON III.

Last updated: 12. June 2022

B-17 42-31762 / Junior aka Crash Wagon III Details

Statements to the loss of B-17 #42-31762

Aircraft 42-31762 pulled out of the group formation at 0906 hours with the #4 prop feathered and the #2 engine smoking. It attempted to regain the formation but finally went into a long spiral and glided below the clouds by 0928 hours at 49°27’N – 01°03’E. Seven (7) chutes were seen to leave the aircraft before it disappeared in the clouds.

Ship hit and set afire by flak. Pilot gave orders to bail out. I saw Lt. Shaffer a few seconds before I bailed out and he was uninjured. The Germans shows 2nd Lt. Joseph Haught, Bombardier and myself Lt. Shaffer’s body. It was terribly smashed. Evidently his chute failed to open.

S/Sgt. Amando A. Marsilii

Source: MACR 5628

B-17 42-31762 / Junior aka Crash Wagon III Crew