42-3353 / Tar Fly | B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress

General
Manufacturer:	Douglas
Production-Block:	, B-17F-50-DL: 42-3339 to 42-3393
Delievered:	Denver

Operational History
Bomb Group:	, 96th Bomb Group
Bomb Squadron:	, 337th Bomb Squadron
RCL	AW-L
Fate:	, Lost by flak/aa-fire (09 September 1943)

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History of
B-17 42-3353 / Tar Fly

Delivered Denver 20/5/43; Dow Fd 7/7/43; Assigned 337BS/96BG [AW-L] Snetterton 13/7/43;MIA Beaumont Sur Oise 9/9/43 with Edwin Noordewier, Co-pilot: Herman Eitel, Navigator: Francis Kelly, Bombardier: Martin Gelman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Sheaves, Radio Operator: W.B. Surratt, Waist gunner: Nathan Karpf, Waist gunner: Bill Garrett (8 Prisoner of War); Ball turret gunner: Orville Sloane,Tail gunner: Lonnie Ogle (2 Killed in Action); flak, crash landed W of Evreux, near Beaumont-Le-Roger, Fr. TAR FLY.

Source: The B-17 Flying Fortress Story (Affiliate-Link/CommissionsEarned)
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.

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B-17 42-3353 / Tar Fly Details

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This page was last updated on 28 May 2025

Jim Sheaves
08. February 2022 2:50

This was my uncle’s plane
It crash landed in France, Sept 43 on way back from a mission to a bomb a Hispana- Souza factory outside of Paris. POW until end of war. There is an exhibit at the AF museum at Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs Co that contains his flight jacket, personal items and a R/C model of the TarFly.

Fred Wallace
08. June 2022 16:12

Hello Jim Sheaves. My uncle (by marriage) was Billy Garrett, the waist gunner on the Tar Fly. As I understand, on the day of the crash he was moved from the waist gunner to another spot…..maybe tail gunner. Because of this he survived. Unfortunately the man who was in his usual position was lost. Your uncle contacted Bill’s wife and daughter, who lived in La Junta, CO and invited them to a presentation at PAFB where he gave them a video tape of the Tar Fly that had been compiled by your uncle and a French man who, as a boy, witnessed the crash. This video was [posted on You Tube for a time but has been removed. I would love to obtain a copy. Bill’s family had this tape but hasn’t been able to find it. Thanks for any help you can provide!

Brie Sheaves Hutchinson
03. October 2023 15:30

Fred, I am Bill’s granddaughter(Bob’s daughter). We have a VHS that was copied for us and I think there is a DVD floating around. If you email me I can try and get you a copy! There is also an amazing interview with the Library of congress https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.57875/ , if you haven’t seen it you may find it very interesting.

Fred Wallace
05. November 2023 15:16

Hello Brie ……. hope you get mu email. Thanks!!

Tara Cardona
16. March 2024 3:46

Hi Brie, Id love to have a copy of the DVD as well if you wouldn’t mind. Happy to pay for supplies and shipping.

Ruby Slone Gundrum
10. June 2024 13:23

My Name is Ruby. Orville Anderson was my uncle. I am trying to get information. I understand you have a DVD of the crash. Please contact me…I willpay for a copy to be sent to me. If any other relatives of the crew read this, please respond. I just discovered this page.
Grateful for any information. Sincerely, Ruby

Ruby Slone Gundrum
10. June 2024 14:19

Hello. I am Orville Slone’s niece, trying to get a copy of the DVD that was in circulation. I will be so grateful to hear from you..and more than happy to pay any expense involved.
sincerely, Ruby

Ruby Slone Gundrum
11. June 2024 2:45

Orville Anderson Slone was my Uncle. I am so interested in locating a copy of this DVD that was in your possession. This is my 2nd message. I don’t know what happened to the first one. If you can respond i would be very grateful. Thanks. Ruby Slone Gundrum

Carolyn Ann Ogle
18. July 2025 1:05

Hi Brie, My Great Uncle was Lonnie Ogle. I ran across you post both the video if possible please let me know. Would love a copy. Will pay expenses, copying costs etc. Thank You!!

Ruby Slone Gundrum
10. June 2024 14:10

Orville Anderson Slone was my uncle. If there is a DVD still in circulation please let me know..I am just now finding this information. I will glady pay any expense involned
Sincerely, Ruby Slone Gundrum

Tara Cardona
16. March 2024 3:42

Hello! My great uncle was co-pilot Herman Eitel. He started the GI Cab Company with his pals when he came home but died a few years later in a plane crash in southern Ohio. I found photos he took in Paris and in the POW camp. I’m trying to learn more about his story and perhaps get him in the MAPS Air Museum in Canton.