zoom_in
Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17F-45-DL: 42-3284 to 42-3338
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 96th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 339th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: QJ-J
MACR: 3808 / KSU/ME/KU: 1470
History of
B-17 42-3322 / Full House
Delivered Denver 10/5/43; Bangor 1/6/43; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-J] Andrews Fd 2/6/43; Snetterton 12/6/43; landing accident with Russell Girse 17/9/43; Missing in Action Sorau 11/4/44 with Ralph Winslow, Co-pilot: Vince Gill, Navigator: John Hill, Ed Segall, Ball turret gunner: Harry Sandford, Waist gunner: George Roche (6 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Ralph Munoz, Radio Operator: Carl Caputo, Waist gunner: John Massie,Tail gunner: Joel Burklund (4KIA- all trapped in ship which sunk immediately); enemy aircraft, crashed Baltic Sea, ten miles of coast at Dankerdorf, ten miles SW of Riggenwalde, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3808. FULL HOUSE.
Last updated: 13. May 2021
B-17 42-3322 / Full House Details
George O. Roche, waist gunner of #42-3322 / Full House about tail gunner Sgt. Joel Burklund
Talked briefly before front half of severed ship sunk. This man deliberately stayed in the tail section to protect us from Jerry planes, even tho he knew we were to ditch. Was in the waist when ship hit, split, and sunk. I asked him if he was OK, and got an OK back. Must have been injured, tho he had complete control of self. He had a fingernail hold on the frame of the radio door from the waist just as we hit the water. Sort of an unsung hero.
S/Sgt. George O. Roche
Waist Gunner
Source: MACR 3808
About the picture
Based on “Fighting Colors – B-17 Flying Fortress in Color by Steve Birdsall”, page 5: this is B-17F-45-DL #42-3322 ‘Full House’ over Oschersleben (Germany), 28 July 1943.
B-17 42-3322 / Full House Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Ralph Nelson Winslow | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Vincent C. Gill | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | John Patrick Hill | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Ralph Munoz | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Edward Segall | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Carl G. Caputo | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | Harry Sanford | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | john Messie, Jr. | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | George O. Roche | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Joel Burklund | KIA | - |
28. October 2019 access_time 18:44
Co-pilot Vince Gil was my uncle on my dad’s side. He survived his 18 months as a POW in Poland. He returned to Worcester MA and a career as an engineer. As a serious hobbyist, he built and flew remote controlled airplanes. He also piloted his own aircraft. Ironically, he was killed in a crash flying a piper cub.
16. September 2022 access_time 7:02
Hi Roland, I am doing research on Ralph Munoz, who was also in the plane crash in WWII. If you have any more details about this, could you please reach out to me? It would be amazing to locate the plane after all of these years and give Ralph and the others a proper burial. This webpage had some good info. Thank you.
11. December 2023 access_time 20:14
Co-pilot Vinny Gill was a close flying friend to my dad. They met through their mutual interest in RC planes. He and his wife would come to our house for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The first plane I flew in as a 5 year old was Vinny’s Cessna 170A taildragger. I believe most, if not all of my siblings also got to fly with him. Great memories! Thanks to everyone here for their contributions and for keeping this resource alive!
13. April 2024 access_time 20:04
Hi there. If you have any connection with the family of Vince Gill, could you please have them contact me? Thank you.