B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31828 / Junkers Joy

History of
B-17 42-31828 / Junkers Joy

Delivered Cheyenne 29/12/43; Gr Island 15/1/44; Presque Is 20/2/44; Assigned 407BS/92BG [PY-Q] Podington 2/3/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 11/9/44 with Bill Kannapinn, Co-pilot: Jim Morris, Navigator: Dick Pfeiffer, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Bansept, Radio Operator: Alton Furbish (5 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Jim Harp, Ball turret gunner: John Pantano, Waist gunner: Jack Rose,Tail gunner: Edgar Walter (4 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Schwittersdorf, NE of Lutherstadt Eisleben, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 8884. JUNKERS JOY.

Last updated: 18. September 2020

B-17 42-31828 / Junkers Joy Details

Eyewitness Statement from MACR 8884

This C.O.W. was first attacked by E/A just before, during and after bombs away. In the process of making a secong run on the primary target the formation became loose. The E/A attacks further broke up the formation. Just at bombs away approximately 15 E/A identified as mixed FW 190’s and Me 109’s jumped the lead group. Attacks by these E/A were in elements of 3 abreast from 6 o’clock level to high firing 20 MM shells. These attacks lasted about 10-15 minutes. On passing this group they looped and dived down on the low group. Seven E/A dived on the low group from 7 o’clock high making one pass in echelons before breaking off their attack. The high group was not attacked until immediately before the rally point at 1215 hours.

B-17 42-31828 / Junkers Joy Crew