B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-37852 / Grand Old Lady aka The Pay Off

History of
B-17 42-37852 / Grand Old Lady aka The Pay Off

Delivered Denver 20/9/43; Gr Island 3/10/43; ass 410BS/94BG [GL-T] Rougham 9/10/43 as GRAND OLD LADY; MIA Berlin 18/4/44 Pilot: Matt Dillard, Co-Pilot: Eli Theriault, Navigator: Tom McQuade, Bombardier: Tom O’Leary, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Henry Swedergal, Radio Operator: Stan Schaefer, Ball Turret Gunner: Delzeon Dennison, Waist Gunner: Neil Weeks, Waist Gunner: Henry Wojciechowski (9POW); wg-Frank Timberlake (KIA); Enemy aircraft, crashed Vietznitz, four miles E of Freisach, Germany. MACR 4157. THE PAY OFF.

Last updated: 25. September 2020

B-17 42-37852 / Grand Old Lady aka The Pay Off Details

This aircraft was a member of the lead Group of a Combat Wing. All A/C were on the bomb run flying at 25000 feet. Weather was clear with no undercast as the bomb run was begun. At altitude, clouds were encountered as the bomb run progressed. Clouds became solid so the Group began descent so as to get under them. Just as the Group emerged, from the upper clouds and leveled off, flying at 23000 feet, the Group was attacked by a close formation of about 40-70 S/E enemy A/C which were practically directly on to of our formation. Two (2) passes were made on this Group, both being head-on in close formation and well pressed. About 80 enemy aircraft were in the formation making the second attack. This aircraft dropped out of formation and was last seen in the target area. It is believed that this aircraft was observed flying NNE of Berlin and losing altitude rapidly. Two (2) chutes were observed. No other observations or information available.

Source: MACR 4157

B-17 42-37852 / Grand Old Lady aka The Pay Off Crew