Production-block:
B-17G-30-BO 42-31732 to 42-31931
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 463rd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 774th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 5065
History of
B-17 42-31826
Delivered Denver 25/12/43; Dallas 5/1/44; Lakeland 6/1/44; Morrison 20/2/44; Assigned 774BS/463BG Celone 22/2/44; Missing in Action Weiner Neustadt 10/5/44 with Barney McLaughlin, Co-pilot: Bob Root, Navigator: George Kinsella, Bombardier: Lorin McQuerter, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Asadoorian, Radio Operator: Claud Kirby, Ball turret gunner: Clarry Seuferling, Waist gunner: George Loziecat, Waist gunner: Frank Scully,Tail gunner: Bob Hogan; flak & enemy aircraft, crashed Graz, Aus; Missing Air Crew Report 5065.
Last updated: 29. March 2019
09. April 2024 access_time 22:22
My Grandfather was the Turret Gunner on that plane. Clanny Clarence Seuferling!
09. April 2024 access_time 22:22
My Grandfather was the Turret Gunner on that plane. Clarry Clarence Seuferling!
06. September 2024 access_time 4:05
I am a good friend of Chuck “Chas” Asadoorian’s grandkids, and I’ve been digging to get some info on the plane.
According to a letter that was written by Barney McLaughlin to Chuck’s mother in 1944, the aircraft (known to her crew as “Abel Mabel”) lost 3 engines due to flak on her final mission, and was forced to leave formation. Two other bombers (commanded by Glenn Reynolds and Gerald Nagle) dropped back in an attempt to defend her, with Nagle’s plane going down in the process. By this time the P-38s joined the fight and made quick work of the remaining enemy fighters, but Abel Mabel couldn’t stay aloft and the order was given to bail out. Half of the crew (pilot, copilot, navigator, and bombardier) were smuggled back to their base in Italy by enlisting the help of local partisans. The remainder of the crew, including Chuck, were either KIA or captured by the Germans.
Chuck was interned for the remainder of WW2, until he returned home in 1945. He passed away on March 24, 2010 at the age of 89. In honor of his service to his country, and to further my love for scale model building, I’m making a 1/72 recreation of Abel Mabel that I will gift to his grandson, Nicholas, when it’s finished.