| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-30-BO 42-31732 to 42-31931 |
| Delievered: | Cheyenne |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 306th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 423rd Bomb Squadron |
| RCL: | RD-S |
| MACR: | 7277 |
| German Document: | KU-2514 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (20 July 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-31897
Delivered: Cheyenne 31/12/43; Kearney 19/1/44; Assigned: 423BS/306BG [RD-S] Thurleigh 6/2/44; MIA Merseburg 20/7/44 Pilot: Dave McNaught, Co-Pilot: John Wollack, Navigator: Bill Glass, Bombardier: Marylyn Watson, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Jerome Scherr, Radio Operator: Theo Hansen, Ball Turret Gunner: Mike Gesine, Waist Gunner: Bill Burke, Tail Gunner: Harry Eckenrode (9POW); flak, crashed Vielau, Germany. MACR 7277.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-31897 Details
According to 2nd Lt Robert N. Horn, Pilot of an aircraft in the same formation, the following is what happened to Aircraft No. 42-31897, Pilot 2nd Lt David A. McNaught on 20 July, 1944:
Our aircraft, No. 897, pilot McNaught, was hit by anti-aircraft gun fire about 1121 hours in Leipzig area. Left Tokyo tank and No. 1 engine caught fire. Aircraft dropped out of formation into steep dive, then came back up, flying level. Turned off to left and flew diagonally away from formation finally disappearing into clouds. Fire was observed to go out. Pilot evidently was unable to feather engine. No chutes observed from this aircraft.
Source: MACR 7277
B-17 42-31897 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name (First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name) | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | David A. McNaught | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | John P. Wollack | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | William E. Glass | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Marlyn L. Watson | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Jerome A. Scherr | POW | - |
| RO | CPL | Theodore J. Hansen | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Michael G. Gesine | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | William J. Burke | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Harold T. Eckenrode | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 21 March 2026
02. October 2025 access_time 12:49
Mein Groß-Tante Margot Pichlmeier, die so wie ich aus Oberschleißheim kommt, hat nach dem Krieg den Navigator dieser B-17, William E. Glass (Bill Glass) geheiratet, nachdem sie ihn im Gefangenenlager, wo sie als Dolmetscherin gearbeitet hat, kennengelernt hatte. Mein Onkel Bill hat uns später von seinem Absturz erzählt und er hat uns oft in Deutschland mit meiner Tante besucht. Diese Seite ist eine wahre Fundgrube an Informationen über die B17. Meinen größten Respekt, tolle Arbeit!
05. October 2025 access_time 18:17
Vielen Dank für die tolle Geschichte und das Lob! 🙂