B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-37826 / No Excuse

History of
B-17 42-37826 / No Excuse

Delivered Denver 13/9/43; Scott 28/9/43; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-O] Horham 30/9/43; with R.L. Carson force landed Scaulthorpe AFB 13/11/434; 17m, Missing in Action Brunswick 10/2/44 with Chas Cole, Co-pilot: Jim Boswell, Navigator: Frank McKenna (3 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Luth Graeff, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Albt Kushnerick, Radio Operator: Bob Maddox, Ball turret gunner: Santo Cerniglia, Waist gunner: Sam Johnston, Waist gunner: Chas Harris,Tail gunner: Joe Menendez (7 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed in street at Engden-Schuttorf, near Jackering, SE of Nordhorn, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2543. NO EXCUSE.

Last updated: 11. February 2024

B-17 42-37826 / No Excuse Details

Information obtained from S-2 files

B-17G 42-37826 piloted by 1Lt. Charles F. Cole, was not reported by any of the returning crew men has been seen to go down. It is assumed, as the ship was not seen going over the target, to be lost on the route in between their and the initial attack by enemy aircraft. The group was continually engaged by enemy aircraft and the other men being so busy fighting off these attacks, that no time was available for observation.

Source: MACR 2543