B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-38064 / Half and Half (Arf & Arf)

History of
B-17 42-38064 / Half and Half (Arf & Arf)

Delivered Cheyenne 1/12/43; Wendover 11/12/43; Grenier 10/1/44; Assigned 749BS/457BG [G/Q] Glatton 26/1/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 8/11/44 with Arnett Furr, Co-pilot: Sterling Book, Navigator: Joe Andrews, Bombardier: Leon Plagianos, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Don Brunsvold, Radio Operator: Dick Weaver, Ball turret gunner: Warren Rankin, Waist gunner: Glen Wisdom,Tail gunner: Leroy Wetzel (9 Killed in Action); mid-air coll with 44-8418, crashed Channel; Missing Air Crew Report 10344. HALF ‘N HALF (ARF ‘N ARF)

Last updated: 3. November 2017

B-17 42-38064 / Half and Half (Arf & Arf) Details

#42-38064 was returning on a “Recall” from a mission to Merseberg when it collided with another plane in the same formation and was cut in two by the rotating props of the other plane. The two pieces spun and fell away into the haze and clouds and crashed into the Channel. The other plane that collided with them, s/n 44-8418, though damaged, left the formation and dropped down to look for survivors. They spotted a man in a Mae West and made several futile attempts at dropping a dinghie to him. They had to leave him and safely returned to Glatton. When Air-Sea Rescue arrived they found the dinghie but no one was in it. All the crew of 42-38064 died.

B-17 42-38064 / Half and Half (Arf & Arf) Crew

Related web sites about the B-17 42-38064 / Half and Half (Arf & Arf)

1. https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-margraten-f/44718-furr-arnet-l
2. https://fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-margraten-b/44719-book-sterling-h-jr