Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-15-DL: 42-37804 to 42-37893 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 390th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 571st Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | FC-Z |
| MACR | 5256 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | 2039 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (28 May 1944) |
| Missions: | 37 |
History of
B-17 42-37806 / Stark’s Ark
Delivered Long Beach 6/9/43; Gr Island 27/9/43; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-Z] Framlingham 15/10/43; Missing in Action Magdeburg (37m) 28/5/44 with Henry Holmes, Co-pilot: Chas Kruger, Navigator: Walter Steck, Bombardier: Oral Thompson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Vic Baccaro, Ball turret gunner: Frank Watson, Waist gunner: Harry Roock, Waist gunner: Soldier Sanders,Tail gunner: Paul Kast (9 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Forrest Knight (Killed in Action); enemy aircraft hit #2 & #3 and left wing afire and last seen in vertical drive, crashed Walternienburg, 17 miles SE of Magdeburg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 5256. STARK’S ARK.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-37806 / Stark’s Ark Details
At 1409 hours near Magdeburg, A/C #806 flying #3 position, low squadron, 390th Group, peeled out of formation with #2 engine and left wing afire after attack by enemy fighters, after leaving formation A/C #806 was again attacked by enemy aircraft. A/C last seen going straight down about 7000 feet. 1 chute seen.
Source: MACR 5256
B-17 42-37806 / Stark’s Ark Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Henry C. Holmes | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Charles B. Kruger | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Walter Steck | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Oral G. Thompson | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Victor L. Baccaro | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Forrest L. Knight | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Frank R. Watson | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Harold R. Roock | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Soldier Sanders | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Paul A. Kast, Jr. | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 06 March 2021
06. March 2021 access_time 20:31
The names are incorrect in association with this crew.
Delivered Cheyenne 7/1/44; Kearney 28/1/44; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-A] Framlingham 10/2/44; Missing in Action (4m) Berlin 6/3/44 with Bob Starks, Navigator: Chas Stitzer, Bombardier: Bob Collins (3 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Edwin Kirschner, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clarry Brown, Radio Operator: Glen Murray, Ball turret gunner: John Carr, Waist gunner: Stan Pasovitch, Waist gunner: Steve Sozanski,Tail gunner: Placido Sanchez (7 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, setting #2 and wing on fire crashed two miles SW of Hemmelte, SW of Cloppenburg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2989. STARK’S ARK.
06. March 2021 access_time 21:27
Hello Chad, there is a second “Starks Arks”:
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-31935-starks-ark/
From My Facebook Page – Post of today:
== ABOUT both „Starks Arks“
Yes, two B-17s were named „Starks Arks“.
The picture shows „Starks Arks“ with s/n 42-37806, which flew 37 missions before its went lost on 28 May 1944 with Lt. Henry J. Holmes crew:
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-37806-starks-ark/
Lt. Robert F. Starks went lost with #42-31935, which flew only 4 combat mission. This is an indication, that the picture is not #42-31935, because of the mission count markings has more than 4 missions. And the history of #935 said, it was assigned to 390th BG on 10 February 1944, over 20 days after the picture has been taken:
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-31935-starks-ark/
13. August 2021 access_time 6:04
This photo is of the Stark’s Ark with Lt. Robert F. Starks as the pilot. The reason I am 100% sure is that my father, Steven Sozanski is 4th from the left in the front row. He survived and was a POW for 18 months.