| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-30-BO 42-31732 to 42-31931 |
| Delievered: | Cheyenne |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 463rd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 774th Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 6866 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | ME-1785 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (08 July 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-31813
Delivered Cheyenne 25/12/43; Dallas 8/1/44; Lakeland 10/1/44; Assigned 774BS/463BG Celone 3/3/44; Missing in Action Vienna 8/7/44 with Freeland Dunker (Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Bill Lucas, Navigator: Leon Berkovsky, Bombardier: John Buckley, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Hugh Bradley, Radio Operator: John Reed, Ball turret gunner: Morris LaDue, Waist gunner: John Thead, Waist gunner: Joe Guylas,Tail gunner: Jim Stefel (9 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Varazdin, Yugo; Missing Air Crew Report 6866.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-31813 Details
Ship number 813 was flying along over the target and got a hit possibly in supercharges, and number 3 engine was feathered. They then peeled off and headed for home, there was no fire, just losing altitude rapidly. They were still flying when I last saw them.
S/Sgt. Wilmer G. Marple, Jr.
Ball Turret Gunner, Ship #924, 774th Bomb Sq.
Source: MACR 6866
B-17 42-31813 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Freeland L. Dunker | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | William F. Lucas | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Leon J. Berkovsky | POW | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | John W. Buckley | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Hugh P. Bradley | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | John P. Reid | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Morris G. LaDue | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | John C. Thead | POW | - |
| WG | T/SGT | Joseph Guylas | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | James L. Stefel | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 06 February 2026
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