| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-75-DL: 42-3504 to 42-3563, B-17G-5-DL: 42-3504 to 42-3563 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 351st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 510th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | TU-M |
| MACR | 1940 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft, Lost by flak/aa-fire (11 January 1944) |
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History of
B-17 42-3523 / April Girl
Delivered Long Beach 22/7/43; Denver 16/8/43; Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-M] Polebrook 24/9/43; Missing in Action {11m} Oschersleben 11/1/44 with George Procak, Co-pilot: George Neely, Navigator: Jerrold Trumbower, Bombardier: Jim Keating, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Cipriano, Radio Operator: Saul Susman, Ball turret gunner: Otis Williams, Waist gunner: Gene Chelstowski, Waist gunner: Pete Goinvic (9 Prisoner of War);Tail gunner: E.T. Burgess {killed in tailplane in crash} (1 Killed in Action); flak and enemy aircraft, crashed Pillgrim, two miles SE of Scherborn, seven miles E of Holzminden, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 1940. APRIL GIRL.
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This page was last updated on 21 March 2024
21. March 2024 access_time 1:06
My uncle was John Cipriano. He was stationed in England and shot down January 11, 1944. You have 11/1/1944 which is the European date, but it was January not November. It’s confusing to us Americans.
21. March 2024 access_time 10:15
Hello Joann, I know the problem with the dates. I have used the date format from the source, which is UK/Europen format. And I have visitors from UK, Germany too. Because it’s different from Americans, and can be confusing, I have added an extra outfield for fate and date, where i have written the full month (e.g. January, February, March, … ). This should be clear to understand for everyone.
03. June 2024 access_time 14:28
My Uncle James Fields was the ball gunner on April Girl with his first crew. I have a great picture of the crew in front of her. Their last mission as a crew with her was Nov 23rd 1943. Would love to know why. That final mission looks to have gone smoothly with no damage reported. Would love to share the picture here.
08. June 2024 access_time 22:28
My father in law was George Procak, the pilot. In Stalag Luft 1. Horrifying story, he wrote an unpublished memoir and also drew and painted scenes of POW camp life. Stayed in touch with many of crew for decades after the war. What great brave men. Email if you care. God Bless them. Geoff B.
30. August 2025 access_time 21:34
My Father was Forrest H. Gordon, who was tail gunner on April Girl II. He is mention multiple times in book br Michael Sargent Martin. He never spoke much about the war. I am wondering how much truth is written about him in Steel Fortress and would like copies of pictures.