| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-25-DL: 42-37989 to 42-38083 |
| Delievered: | Denver |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 463rd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 775th Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 5846 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (10 Juni 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-37997 / Miss Behaven
Delivered Denver 9/11/43; Long Beach 19/12/43; Cheyenne 27/12/43; Lakeland 10/1/44; Assigned 775BS/463BG Celone 9/3/44; Missing in Action Mestre, Italy 10/6/44 with Howard Smith, Co-pilot: Frank Gilbert, Navigator: Joe Russo, Bombardier: Kent Polkinghorne, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: George Wray, Radio Operator: Scott Rousseau, Ball turret gunner: Grover Jenkins, Waist gunner: Hugh Diggins, Waist gunner: John Palmer,Tail gunner: Lloyd Upchurch (10 Killed in Action); flak, crashed Adriatic Sea; Missing Air Crew Report 5846. MISS BEHAVEN.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-37997 / Miss Behaven Details
Eyewitness Statement
At about 0936, ship No. 42-37997 slid out of formation, rolled over on its back and started spinning. Fire broke out in right wing and ship blew up. I saw no chutes open.
2nd Lt. Lloyd A. Gatz
Navigator, B-17 No. 42-102909
The first time I noticed Ship No. 42-37997, the whole right wing was leaking gas. There was a trail of black smoke from number 4 engine. I noticed the right wing buckling and then the ship fell out of formation. The ship started down and the right wing fell off, a few seconds later the ship exploded. After the ship exploded I saw five (5) chutes open, and I believe these chutes were blown out of ship.
S/Sgt. Jack F. Paille
Ball Turret Gunner, B-17 No. 42-31770
At about 1030 I saw ship No. 42-37997 and smoke was coming out of the vents of the right wing. The right wing started folding up and the ship fell out of formation. The ship then went into a dive and a spin and at about 5,000 feet it blew up and I then saw 5 chutes open.
S/Sgt. Jerome F. Beshoner
Tail Gunner, B-17 No. 42-31845
At about 1030 I saw ship No. 42-37997 flying No. 7 position in Able. The ship was straggling and peeled into formation and I noticed No. 1 Engine was leaking oil and gasoline was coming out of right wing, with traces of black smoke coming from No. 4 engine. Suddenly the wing started turning black and crumbling and a flame was visible as the ship went into a side slip to the right of the formation. After the ship dropped about 1000 yards the ship blew up and four (4) chutes opened from men blown clear of the plane, while the fifth (5) chute was from the man that climbed out of the tail.
S/Sgt. William A. Taft
Ball Turret Gunner, B-17 No. 42-102909
At about 1030 I saw ship No. 42-37997, and fire was burning on right wing by No. 4 engine. The ship flew in formation for about 5 minutes, then peeled off and went into a spin and then blew up. After the explosion I saw 5 chutes open.
S/Sgt. Herbert A. Pritchard
Right Waist Gunner, B-17 No. 42-31845
Source: MACR 5846
B-17 42-37997 / Miss Behaven Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Howard W. Smith | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Frank M. Gilbert | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Joseph Russo | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Kent Polkiinghorne | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | George H. Wray | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Grover C. Jenkins | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Scott D. Rousseau | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | John M. Palmer | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Hugh R. Diggins | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Lloyd R. Upchurch | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 31 January 2026
13. March 2023 access_time 1:32
My father was the pilot of Miss Behaven yet I do not see him listed. Can you verify ?