B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-31968 / Miss Irish

History of
B-17 42-31968 / Miss Irish

B-17 42-31968 / Miss Irish Details

Air Historical Group Records – 100th Bomb Group

On this mission flak was put up from coast on arrival and continued for the entire time over enemy territory. This flak came from the defenses of Boulogne and Calais, with a rocket battery reported SE [South-East] of the target toward St. Omer, and 6-8 guns located at intersection of a highway and railroad track at 525230-014830 E. These guns were accurate using continuous pointed fire. Rocket fire was seen in a salvo of 4 rockets and then individual ones were seen. Pink, not red, flak burst were seen and several pale green were noted. It is stated that the flak fire seemed to die down in that area after the green bursts were fired. The rockets trailed black smoke and burst with large very black smoke. One rocket which went off at an estimated 25,000 feet continued to explode several more times in a descent to 15,000 feet. Another rocket exploded and a large ball of fire which seemed to be supported by a parachute descended slowly, but was not observed to go out or explode. A predicted concentration was tried to left of target area and a barrage was put up over Calais. Otherwise, the fire was accurate continuous pointed in groups of 4 to 6 from 88’s and 105’s. There was a direct hit in the radio compartment of ship #968 which knocked the radio operator out of the ship (reportedly without a parachute on) and later caused the ship to be washed out in a crash landing at Gravesend.

5 Dec. 1944 Re: S/Sgt Edward Walker, Jr., (Radio Operator)

Upon reinterrogation of 1st Lt. J.P. Gibbons (Pilot) of crew on this mission, the following facts are:

The radio compartment was hit by a direct burst of flak tearing the floor off. The Ball Turret Operator, S/Sgt R. L. Spragg who is now an official POW saw Walker fall out when the burst hit. The parachute of Walker was wrapped around the fuselage and tail assembly.

Plane No 968 Direct AA [Anti-Aircraft] burst in Radio Room South of Calais Time: 1813 to 1817 – just before target Altitude 21,000 Heading 60° Flak was continuous and accurate. Ship hit in radio compartment bearing hole 7 X 12 Ft. RO also hit and believed killed instantly he fell out shortly afterward, RO did not have chute on when he fell, but crew is certain he had been killed as other gunners observed considerable blood and could see he was seriously mangled.

S/Walter R. Gutchinson

Source: MACR 15220

B-17 42-31968 / Miss Irish Crew