Production-block:
B-17F-35-DL: 42-3189 to 42-3228
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 381st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 535th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: MS-M
MACR: 384 / KSU/ME/KU: 33
Missions: 9+
History of
B-17 42-3220 / Damfino
Delivered Cheyenne 1/4/43; Dow Fd 23/5/43; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-M] Ridgewell 28/5/43 with Harry Smith, Sam Hawkins, John Noonan, Lloyd Gwinn, Harry Blake, Judd Lischke, Tony Sylvester, John Jupin, John Elsberry, Julius Cosby; Missing in Action 9+m Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Harry Smith, Co-pilot: Sam Hawkins, Navigator: John Noonan, Bombardier: Lloyd Gwinn, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Judd Lischke, Radio Operator: Tony Sylvester, Ball turret gunner: John Jupin, Waist gunner: Harry Blake, Waist gunner: John Elsberry,Tail gunner: Bob Colborn (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Marksteinach, five miles E of Schweinfurt, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 384. DAMFINO.
Last updated: 20. May 2020
B-17 42-3220 / Damfino Details
Transcriptions from MACR 384
42-3220 went down at 49°50’N – 07°20’E during a fighter attack. Still under control with one engine feathered. Time 1425. Another ship reported this A/C had a broken windshield before target and that ten minutes before target one chute came out. After target was flying along level when went into a spin.
Don S. Williams
1Lt., A.C.
381st Bomb Group (H) Hdq.
B-17 42-3220 / Damfino Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Harry M. Smith | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Samuel J. Hawkins | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | John P. Noonan | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Lloyd W. Gwinn | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Judd O. Lischke | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Tony A. Sylvester | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | John Jupin | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Harold L. Blanke | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | John V. Elsberry, Jr. | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Robert L. Colburn | POW | - |
29. August 2018 access_time 11:22
My Dad was John Elsberry – the waist gunner on Damfino. As the 75th anniversary of him, and his fellow crew members, being shot down just recently passed … I was certainly thinking of both him and them. Many thanks to them all.
07. September 2019 access_time 17:41
My dad was SSgt Harold (Harry) Blake.
I’d really love it if anyone has any information on him. He was a POW in stalag 17 for 18 months, until he was liberated.
He never talked much about those days.
14. November 2019 access_time 1:24
Hello Jennifer,
Harold Blake was my great Uncle on my Dad’s side. I met him once a little while after high school. He seemed like a great man, as were most of his generation. I’ve been looking to find out more information about him as well. I wish you luck in your search,
Steve Goodwin
08. April 2020 access_time 12:20
Hello everyone.
My name is Hannes Stetten.
I am a member of a historical association.
My area of interest is the history of World War 2, especially the air war in my hometown Schweinfurt.
I was able to find out some information about the Boeing B17 42-3220 Damfino. Me and my friends have also spoken to eyewitnesses who saw the plane crash.
I would be very happy to get in contact with relatives of the flight crew
my email address is hannes.stetten1993@web.de
best regards
Hannes Stetten
11. November 2022 access_time 17:56
I worked with John Elsberry at Vans aircraft.
I was young and played in a band.
John and his friend would come watch us play, and would dance for many songs.
He was one of the nicest men I’ve ever met.
I was at his funeral when Vans crew flew the missing man formation.
I think of John often.
05. June 2023 access_time 4:27
Judd O Lischke is father of my friend Jeff who encourages me to put some of this heroic story as part of my novel about Indonesians students pow in Netherlands & Germany as facts background of 75%. it was about underground human rite n anti totalitarianism activists who revealed pre commitments of some top military officers and anti current govt at tht time. they got caught by SS otw smuggled the data to UK, lady gf of one of them arranged safe house n asylum to the UK link to the Churchill’s office. camps dramas tragedies till American heroes released them after bombing heart of nazi till they surrendered.