zoom_in
Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17G-35-BO: 42-31932 to 42-32116
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 483rd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 840th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 6901
History of
B-17 42-32109 / Mizpah
Delivered Cheyenne 24/1/44; MacDill 5/2/44; Morrison 9/3/44; Assigned 840BS/483BG Tortorella 13/3/44; Missing in Action Budapest 14/7/44 with 1Lt Ewald A Swanson, 2Lt Paul Berndt, Gramenzi, Simonelli, Hish, Bell, Kelley, Tucker (8 Prisoner of War); Henderson, Dudley (2 Killed in Action); flak, nose blown off, crashed Solt; Missing Air Crew Report 6901. MIZPAH.
Last updated: 18. October 2024
B-17 42-32109 / Mizpah Details
Eyewitness Statements from MACR 6901
Aircraft No. 42-32109 received a direct hit in the nose. The pilot had control of the ship for a few seconds while I saw him. The Bombardier was probably instantly killed. The Ball Turret Gunner of our ship (42-97792) observed five chutes.
2Lt. John M. Turturro
Aircraft No. 42-32109 was flying in number two position directly opposite my ship (42-97792). About two thirds of the way down the bomb run, the nose of 109 peeled up as though something had cut it off. It fell back over the cockpit. The ship nosed up into the air then settled back as though the pilot had control. Then he went out of my sight. The ship sustained a direct hit.
It was observed that five good chutes and one tattered chute came out of the plane. I doubt very much if eighter the Navigator or Bombardier werer alive after the burst.
2Lt. Dwayne L. Goodwin
Aircraft No. 42-32109 received a direct hit in the nose. The nose blew over the cockpit of the ship and I saw five chutes leaving the ship. The plane was covered with blood and the Navigator most likely jumped, but his chute was torn pretty bad. I didn’t see the ship as it was hit.
S/Sgt. Charles L. Stoll, Jr.
B-17 42-32109 / Mizpah Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Ewald A. Swanson | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Paul Berndt | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Joseph H. Henderson, Jr. | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Kenneth W. Dudley | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Frank N. Gramenzi | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | George J. Simonelli | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Arnold R. Kelley | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Dale R. Hish | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Wesley D. Tucker | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Charles W. Bell | POW | - |
03. March 2019 access_time 4:36
I’m going through my mums old photos and found a shot of two crew standing next The Mizpah. It doesn’t say who they are unfortunately
17. July 2020 access_time 16:49
According to other documents, everyone bailed out except the pilot and copilot.
17. July 2020 access_time 17:57
Hello Banik, what are the other documents? Based on MACR, the bombardier and navigator are the only casulties. Other crew members become POW.
28. July 2021 access_time 18:45
Hello Ralph, My father was one of the POW on The Mizpah. You mentioned a photograph. Is there any way I could see it? Thank you very much. Rochelle (Gramenzi) Popivchak
30. July 2021 access_time 7:34
Hi Rochelle, I’ve loaded onto my dropbox, here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lqivualmic6umf3/MizpahCrew_0001_a.jpg?dl=0 .
However, since posting my comment, I’ve discovered there was a second fortress named Mizpah and that this one made it back to the US after the war and was decommissioned. I suspect this is the one in my photo but take a look anyway, I’d love it if your father is pictured.
06. March 2021 access_time 0:01
According to the books, “Heroes of the 483rd” and “483rd Bomb Group (H)”, the bombardier and the navigator were killed instantly. The pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer kept the plane under control for 10 minutes while the rest of the crew jumped. The pilot, Ewald Swanson attended many of the 483rd BG reunions.
28. July 2021 access_time 18:46
Yes. All that you’ve mentioned is true. My father was Frank Gramenzi. Thank you.
27. January 2024 access_time 5:52
My grandfather was the radio operator on the Mizpah (George J. Simonelli). Prior to his passing, he gave me original photos and his medals. I’m interested to see what other pictures exist other than the infamous photos of the aircraft going down or the crew in front of it. He told me that while he was a POW, the individual in charge of the POW camp was someone who he went to high school with. He singled my grandfather out and then brought him to an interrogation room and revealed his identity. My grandfather told me that during high school, he tutored this guy and protected him from the jocks who made fun of him. Evidently, he remembered that and spared my grandfather.