Production-block:
B-17G-20-DL: 42-37894 to 42-37988
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 452nd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 730th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: 6K-Q
MACR: 4492 / KSU/ME/KU: 1731
History of
B-17 42-37949 / Sunrise Serenade
Delivered: Denver 23/10/43; Walla Walla 9/11/43; ass 730BS/452BG [6K-Q] Deopham Green 4/1/44; MIA Pas de Calais 1/5/44 Pilot: Francis Smedley (KIA- when baling out chute caught on horizontal stabilizer); Co-Pilot: Bill Hewett, Navigator: John McGrath, Bombardier: George Griffin, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Norbert Rhodes, Radio Operator: Andy Senetsky, Ball Turret Gunner: Jim Gallagher, Waist Gunner: Harry Shoffner, Waist Gunner: John Brown, Tail Gunner: Ray Dean (9POW); flak KOd #2 and set fire to cockpit, brew baled and aircraft crashed St Ulriks-Kapelle, seven miles NW of Brussels, Belgium. MACR 4492. SUNRISE SERENADE.
Last updated: 30. September 2025
B-17 42-37949 / Sunrise Serenade Details
Aircraft B-17G 42-37949 was hit by flak over the target area, and about three minutes after bombing, at approximately 5 miles west of Brussels the #2 engine, the cockpit and the bomb bay were seen on fire. Nine chutes were observed to blossom from the plane – the tenth man seen escaping from the nose of the ship snagged his parachute on the aircraft and it was ripped from him. The aircraft was seen to hit the ground and explode.
Source: MACR 4492
B-17 42-37949 / Sunrise Serenade Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Francis C. Smedley | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | William J. Hewett | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | John J. McGrath | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | George D. Griffin | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Norbert E. Rhodes | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Andrew Senetsky, Jr. | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | James E. Gallagher, Jr. | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Harry C. Shoffner | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | John G. Brown | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Raymond E. Dean | POW | - |
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