| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-30-DL: 42-38084 to 42-38213 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 305th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 366th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | KY-B |
| MACR | 3476 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (29 March 1944) |
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History of
B-17 42-38106
Delivered Denver 14/12/43; Mitchell 7/1/44; Assigned 366BS/305BG [KY-B] Chelveston 11/2/44; Missing in Action Brunswick 29/3/44 with Bill Wayenberg, Co-pilot: Ed Church, Navigator: Tom Stanford, Bombardier: Bill Bracken, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gerald Gannon, Radio Operator: Art Carroll, Ball turret gunner: Bill Minton, Waist gunner: Terrell Tucker,Tail gunner: John Sheppard (9 Killed in Action); Waist gunner: Jerome Helmer (Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Lingwedel, 28 miles N of Brunswick, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 3476.
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This page was last updated on 04 May 2017
13. November 2018 access_time 0:22
I am the son -in-law of the survivor of this plane – Jerome J. Helmer. He died in 1985, married for 39 years and had a daughter and 2 grand children. If you have any pictures it would be appreciated. He did not talk much about his crew nor the POW. thanks glen
14. January 2025 access_time 6:43
Hello, I am sorry for your loss. My great uncle Gerald H. Gannon was lost on this same mission, the top turret gunner. I am recently interested and researching the same sort of information you are seeking. wishing you luck on your quest, there is more it there than you think sometimes.
15. January 2025 access_time 4:58
I am a great nephew of one of the deceased crew members of this same mission, Gerald H. Gannon who was the top turret gunner. I am sorry for the loss of all these brave airmen and it’s fortunate that you had some time with your father in law. A week ago, my family visited the Margraten cemetery in the Netherlands where 5 of the crew members are buried. You may find a photo of the entire crew at this address: https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-margraten-g/57059-gannon-gerald-h . My uncle is on the top left; I am trying to match names to these faces. I think I have found four of the ten, but it is difficult to piece things together. Wishing you luck if you are still searching.
14. February 2025 access_time 0:12
Tom, I have put names to the faces on all but two of the crewmen in the picture. I reached out to relatives of both on Ancestry to see if they can confirm who is who. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jmVSijo7w6sEUtZ3igaKzwo44uko_9Gy/view?usp=sharing
18. March 2022 access_time 22:33
Hello all coming up on 78 years since the crash. there was a web site on with the planes crew family but we lost the site. Trying to put together a display but would like a picture of the plane and crew. call at 636-448-5218 or email
23. February 2023 access_time 17:04
Coming up on 79 years do we have any surviving relatives of the crew?
15. January 2025 access_time 5:03
Hi Glen, I hope this source who has been to the crash site can provide some additional information. Rather tragically, as my great uncle Gerald Gannon was killed on this mission, there is a fair amount of archival information on him. It seems you are dedicated to the search, don’t give up!
29. March 2023 access_time 22:21
I am in touch with a German researcher who has been to the crash site and has more information on the battle and German pilot. We are all searching for a crew and plane picture.
14. February 2025 access_time 0:17
Glen, Here is a crew picture. I have identified all but 2 of the crew. I have reached out to relatives to confirm who is who. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1npdIYSaDZuWyP8V4hjwxj0_cD51XqiY8/view?usp=sharing
17. January 2025 access_time 17:13
Tom thanks again for the info and I did not know they were buried in the Netherlands. You mentioned that 5 of 9 are buried in Netherlands, what about the other 4? The Missing Air Crew reports has info on the burials immediately after the crash. As well pictures of dog tags and last known addresses of the crew. Jerome Helmer died of natural causes in 1985 and buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetary in St. Louis. He lived a great life, but rarely talked about his experiences. Plane was shot down at 22K ft by a FW190. Jerry was knocked out an woke up outside the craft and pulled his parachute at about 11K ft. Two badly sprained ankles and was arrested. The local German historian says he talked to locals about the crash and also located items from the crash site. He can take us there and metal detect if we want. He also is setting up a memorial site for the crew.
15. February 2025 access_time 20:58
The crew of 42-38106 – 305th BG, 366th BS: Back Row: Sgt. Gerald H. Gannon, Top Turret/Flight Engineer (KIA); Sgt. William H. Minton, Ball Turret (KIA); Sgt. Arthur P. Carroll, Radio Operator (KIA); Sgt. Jerome J. Helmer, Waist Gunner (POW,RTD); Sgt. Terrell H. Tucker, Waist Gunner (KIA); Sgt. John P. Sheppard, Tail Gunner (KIA). Front Row: 2nd Lt. William D. Wayenberg, Pilot (KIA); 2nd Lt. Edward S. Church, Co-Pilot (KIA), 2nd Lt. William A. Bracken, Navigator (KIA); 2nd Lt. Thomas N. Stanford, Bombardier (KIA). Delivered Denver 14/12/43; Mitchell 7/1/44; Assigned 366BS/305BG [KY-B] Chelveston 11/2/44; Missing in Action Brunswick 29/3/; enemy aircraft, crashed Lingwedel, 28 miles N of Brunswick, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 3476.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10KP5icsTmYp0KPtLN48g3vzDPHS7w1nA/view?usp=sharing