B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31779 / This Is It

History of
B-17 42-31779 / This Is It

Delivered Denver 13/12/43; Cheyenne 18/12/43; Kearney 30/12/43; Assigned 524BS/379BG [WA-J] Kimbolton 6/2/44; soon after t/o for mission on 27/8/44 #1 engine started throwing oil, then caught fire and bail out order was given, with Bill Stickler, Co-pilot: George Hess, Navigator: Jesse Bayer, Bombardier: Carl Cook, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Frank Donnel, Radio Operator: David McKimsey, Ball turret gunner: Frank Cuffe, Waist gunner: Keely Grice,Tail gunner: George Hampel (9 Returned to Duty); aircraft engined then exploded and ship crashed Slipton, Northamptonshire, UK, 27/8/44; Salvaged 28/8/44.

Last updated: 27. November 2018