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: | , 570th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | DI-O |
| MACR | 2990 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | 1191 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (08 March 1944) |
| Missions: | 23 |
History of
B-17 42-37812 / Heavenly Body
Delivered Long Beach 7/9/43; Grand Island 1/10/43; ass 570BS/390BG [DI-O] Framlingham 26/10/43; MIA [23m] Berlin 8/3/44 Pilot: Bill Branum, Co-Pilot: Odell Stanphill, Navigator: John Sullivan, Bombardier: Edwin Nicholls, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Bob House, Radio Operator: John Noonan, Ball Turret Gunner: Curtis Lillard, Waist Gunner: Ernie Peiffer, Tail Gunner: Maurice Michalek (9POW); Waist Gunner: Ken Pyle (KIA-died in Lazarette hospital due to compound fracture of his leg); Enemy aircraft, KO’d #2 & set fire to wing, crashed Poucher Forest, six miles SE of Bitterfeld, 25 miles W of Torgau, Germany. MACR 2990. HEAVENLY BODY.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-37812 / Heavenly Body Details
A/C 812 was observed about 1400 hours near 51 deg. 41 min. N – 13 deg. 40 min. E with #2 engine afire after attacks by fighters, A/C made 180 deg. turn and was under attack by enemy aircraft. No chutes reported. A/C 812 observed to shoot down several enemy aircraft. Two crews reported gas leaking from gas tank of A/C 812.
Source: MACR 2990


B-17 42-37812 / Heavenly Body Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Lt. William S. Branum | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Odell Stanphill | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | John L. Sullivan | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Edwin H. Nicholls | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Robert House | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | John M. Noonan | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Curtis T. Lillard | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Kenneth E. Pyle | KIA | Died of wounds in hospital |
| WG | S/SGT | Ernest H. Peiffer | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Maurice E. Michalek | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 04 September 2021

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