B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-38204

History of
B-17 42-38204

Delivered Denver 14/1/44; Gr Island 31/1/44; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-H] Molesworth 29/2/44, then 360BS [PU-H]; Missing in Action Oberpfaffenhofen (19m) 24/4/44; enemy aircraft & flak KOd #3, crash landed Cointrin Afd, Geneva, Switz; Missing Air Crew Report 4271. 10 INT

Last updated: 28. February 2020

B-17 42-38204 Details

Statement of S/Sgt. Samuel C. Ross from MACR 4271

On the mission to Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, on 24 April 1944, I was the tail gunner on A/C #42-38051 which was flying in #6 position in the high squadron in the high group in the 41st “B” Combat Wing. A/C #42-38204, the missing A/C, was flying in #7 position in the same squadron. The relative positions are shown in the formation below. Three or four minutes after passing Strasbourg, we received our first fighter attack. Four E/A concentrated on the missing A/C and knocked out one of its engines. The propeller on this engine was immediately feathered. Shortly thereafter it dropped back out of formation and jettisoned its bombs. Apparently the missing A/C could not rejoin the formation because within a short time it turned off to the right toward Switzerland. When last seen, it was headed in that direction at an altutude of about 15000 feet.

B-17 42-38204 Crew

Related web sites about the B-17 42-38204

1. http://www.303rdbg.com/358mcclure.html
2. http://warbird.ch/wb-events/motor-ging-in-flammen-auf/