B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31790 / Jersey Misquite

History of
B-17 42-31790 / Jersey Misquite

Delivered Cheyenne 22/12/43; Dallas 5/1/44; Dale Marbry 10/1/44; Lakeland 18/1/44; Morrison 19/1/44; Assigned 774BS/463BG Celone 21/2/44; Missing in Action Zagreb 6/4/44 with Jim Little, Co-pilot: Howard Springer, Navigator: Louis Fahrman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Bagley, Radio Operator: Lloyd Powell, Ball turret gunner: Fred Jenner, Waist gunner: Dale Luther, Waist gunner: Roy Shenkel,Tail gunner: Marvin Stefer (9 Prisoner of War); flak knocked out #3, enemy aircraft attacked and ship exploded; nine chutes opened but one caught on tail, Bombardier: Bob Braunfield (Killed in Action), crashed near Zagreb; Missing Air Crew Report 3881.

Last updated: 26. October 2019

B-17 42-31790 / Jersey Misquite Details

Information from John Hornbeck:

Engines were R-1820-97, serial numbers 43-62391, 43-62081, SW-009070 and SW-00-8726.

The following were crew on the flight: Pilot: Jim Little, Co-pilot: Harold Springer, Bombadier:
Robert Braunfield, Navigator: Louis Fuhrman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Bagley, Radio Operator: Lloyd Powell, Ball turret gunner: Fred Jenner, Waist gunner: Dale Luther, Waist gunner: Roy Shenkel,Tail gunner: Marvin Stofer.

Enemy aircraft attacked; bombs were salvoed and ship left formaton; ship exploded during descent. Time: about 1635 hours (see more detailed time line below). Location: about 20 miles – 35 degrees from Zagreb (according to Missing Air Crew Report 3881). Braunfield, Fuhrman and Stofer were killed in action. The other 7 crew members were captured and placed in several POW camps.

Compiled from multiple verifiable sources
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There are varied reports of where the plane crashed. Hand drawn maps from eyewitnesses show it going down near Vrankovec (46 05 N – 15 55 E), about 12 miles north of Zagreb. This location is near a railroad line along the Krapina River, between Zabok and Trgovisce. (Declassified report NND 735001; NARA; NARA Date 1973 — from John Hornbeck)
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A letter dated August 24, 1944 to Roy’s mother Clemmie from Headquarters, Army Air Force said the attack on our plane occurred “about 4:35 PM”. Various witness reports from other planes in the formation together provide a very precise timeline: 1624 hours, “Enemy planes shot one burst of rockets – one of which hit Lt. Little’s ship apparently in the radio room”; 1626, Fire could be seen “in bomb bay and possibly in radio room”; 1628, “bombs were salvoed” from the plane; 1629, “#790 started to drop behind formation”; and 1633-1635, plane exploded and started to descend. Everything took place in a matter of 9 to 11 minutes.
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B-17 42-31790 / Jersey Misquite Crew