B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-38069 / Big Widget

History of
B-17 42-38069 / Big Widget

Delivered Denver 2/12/43; memphis 20/12/43; Savannah 5/1/44; Assigned 96BS/2BG Amendola [T] 26/1/44; {68m} Missing in Action Odertal, Ger; 22/8/44 with Charles Duncan, Co-pilot: Harry Bogie, Navigator: Merle Clark, Bombardier: ? Cazier, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Warren Van Den Plas, Radio Operator: Joe Levine, Ball turret gunner: Regino Rodrigues, Waist gunner: Sam Wentzel (8 Prisoner of War); Waist gunner: Teddy Tomasik,Tail gunner: Chas Willett (2 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft blew off most of nose, three chutes seen, ship exploded and crashed near Sarvar, Hungary. Missing Air Crew Report 11270. BIG WIDGET.

Last updated: 22. August 2020

B-17 42-38069 / Big Widget Details

S/Sgt. Charles R. Hill, tail gunner on B-17 No. 395 which was flying in the first wave, third squadron, first element, second plane.

After we left the target, B-17 No. 069 lagged behind us. Our element was separated from the squadron at the time. I heard over the interphone that they were going to throw out all extra equipment and salvo the ball turret. A frew minutes later I saw one chute go out, then three FW-190 attacked No. 069. Four chutes came out then, one after the other. The plane flew on behind us for some time until I lost sight of it. This was at 1315 hours from 19000 feet at 46 deg 25 min North 17 deg 10 min East.

S/Sgt. Charles R. Hill

S/Sgt. Donald E. Crutcher, lower turret gunner on B-17 No. 395 which was flying in the first wave, third squadron, first element, second plane.

After we left the target, aircraft No. 069 started to straggle, they flew beind us for some time. I heard on the radio that they were going to throw extra equipment out and salvo the ball turret. They still lagged behind. I saw one chute come out, then a few minutes later three enemy aircraft (FW-190) attacked No. 069, attackig from about 7 o’clock, high an low, then four chutes came out. The last I saw of No. 069 it was still flying southeast, way behind us. This was at 1315 hours at 46 degrees 25 min North, 17 degrees 10 min East.

S/Sgt. Donald E. Crutcher

S/Sgt. John A. Lamb, tail gunner on B-17 No. 161 which was flying in second wave, third squadron, second element, third plane.

B-17 No. 069 was attacked by two enemy fighters, I counted six chutes but the first one opened and did not blossom as far as I could see. This occured just as two fighters, a Me-109 and FW-190 attacked us from six o’clock. I last saw no. 069 at 1250 hours at 47 degrees 00 min North, 17 deg 00 min East.

S/Sgt. John A. Lamb

S/Sgt. Britt W. Jones, tail gunner on B-17 no. 379, 96th squadron which was flying in the first wave, third squadron, second element, fourth plane.

I saw no. 069 after fighters (Me-109) attacked. It was still flying level and pulled to the right mone chute came out and in about three minutes I saw seven more chutes open. Then the ship flew for about twenty minutes, P-38’s went over to her and it seems that they made a pass at no. 069, then she began to smoke and within one minute exploded.

S/Sgt. Britt W. Jones

S/Sgt. George C. Howe, tail gunner on B-17 no. 116, which was flying in the first wave, third squadron, first element, lead plane.

Our squadron was separated from the rest of the group right off the target, and tacked on to the 301st Group. No. 069 was lagging behind the formation about 1/2 mile when 8 Me-109’s came in from their rear, and about four of them made passes, one at a time. The E/A circled and then made another pass. After the first pass, one chute came out; after the second pass, a bug puff of smoke came out of some part of the plane and I saw two more chutes come out. I then lost sight of no. 069, this was at 1252 hours at 47 deg 10 min North, 17 deg 10 min East.

S/Sgt. George. C. Howe

Source: MACR 11270

B-17 42-38069 / Big Widget Crew