Source:
John Cilio
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-60-DL: 42-3423 to 42-3448 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 96th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 338th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | BX-U |
| MACR | 835 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (14 October 1943) |
History of
B-17 42-3430 / Carolina Boomerang
Delivered Denver 1/6/43; Dow Fd 20/7/43; Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-U] Snetterton 26/7/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 14/10/43 with Jack O. Horton, POW; Navigator: Delmar O. Schmidt, POW; Bombardier: Raymond Ives, POW; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clarence F. Codling, POW; Radio Operator: Joseph S. Potts, POW; Ball turret gunner: Perry K. Smith, POW; Waist gunner: James C. Vogel, POW; Waist gunner: Robert Calnon, POW; Co-pilot: Karl D. Miller, Evaded; Tail gunner: Frank Visalli, Evaded; enemy aircraft, crashed Puisieux, three miles N of Laon, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 835. CAROLINA BOOMERANG.
B-17 42-3430 / Carolina Boomerang Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Jack O. Horton | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Karl D. Miller | EVD | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Delmar O. Schmidt | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Raymond Ives | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Clarence F. Codling | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Joseph S. Potts | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Perry K. Smith | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | James C. Vogel | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Robert Calnon | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Frank Visalli | EVD | - |
This page was last updated on 10 December 2020
13. April 2020 access_time 18:38
I believe that my Dad, Jim Moore was the Bombardier/Navigator on this aircraft for several missions. The Pilot was Roland McCrae. One week prior to this aircraft being shot down, the crew was transferred to the 482 Bomb Group – Pathfinders. The new B17G was named the Carolina Boomerang III. Captain McRae who was from Greensboro NC. He named both planes.
15. November 2023 access_time 17:42
My grandfather was Roland McRae, pilot of this plane. Oh the stories I have of the times he spent in this plane. 33missions total. Never shot down never lost a man.
16. March 2024 access_time 2:21
I heard that your Grandfather was a hell of a pilot. I have a newspaper clipping that told if flack releasing the inflatable dingy which got stuck on the horizontal stabilizer. The waist gunner fired a burst to deflate it but it was still stuck on the stabilizer. A Col. aboard gave the order to bail out. The newspaper clipping said that you Grandfather said he thought he could get the ship back to England. I heard a different story, Roland told the Col. that it was his airplane and he would give the bail out order, if necessary.
20. October 2023 access_time 22:22
My father, Jack O Horton was the pilot of the Carolina Boomerang when it was shot down after dropping bombs on Schweinfurt on Black Thursday. I have collected everything I can find regarding his WWII experience. If anyone knows anything, however insignificant, I would appreciate the information.
18. February 2024 access_time 21:25
Jack, my father James C. Vogel was left waist gunner on the carolina boomerang. I have picture of the crew standing in front of the plane if you would be interested.. James E. Vogel
05. November 2023 access_time 4:31
My 8th grade Spanish teacher was S/Sgt Perry Smith.. Ball Turrent Gunner…pow in stalag 17B.,a fine man whom I respected a great deal. Said very little but commanded respect.
16. October 2025 access_time 13:57
Señor Smith as we called him in Spanish class was such an enthusiastic teacher. A comment he made stuck with me – just an aside, too much time has passed to remember how or why it came up – but he said they used to joke that the Swiss navy was on the way to set them free and he chuckled at the memory. I don’t remember him ever saying anything more about his time in the service. He was a wonderful guy and teacher.
13. February 2024 access_time 2:15
My Dad Joseph Bohning also Flew with McRae and Moore he was a ssgt radio operator/waist gunner originally 96th then Pathfindrs.