Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-1-VE: 42-39758 to 42-39857 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 351st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 511th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | DS-D |
| MACR | 1939 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | 732 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (11 January 1944) |
| Missions: | 13 |
History of
B-17 42-39761 / Fireball II
Delivered Long Beach 25/8/43; Scott 22/10/43; Assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 26/10/43; transferred 511BS/351BG [DS-D] Polebrook 25/11/43; Missing in Action {13m} Oschersleben 11/1/44 with Thompson White, Co-pilot: Valleau Wilkie, Navigator: Pete Soderling, Bombardier: Fred Warren{evaded but captured in Antwerp 1/6/44}, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clyde Mellen{captured Pyrenees}, Waist gunner: John Watson,Tail gunner: Hymen Hitow (7 Prisoner of War), Radio Operator: Harry Dratz, Ball turret gunner: Walt Snyder{ret UK}, Waist gunner: Norman Elkin{ret UK} (3 evaded capture); enemy aircraft, crash landed Zweeloo, Hol; Missing Air Crew Report 1939. FIREBALL II.
B-17 42-39761 / Fireball II Details
The plane’s No. 4 engine was shot out and could not feather the propeller ad No. 1 engine was knocked out and feathered; No. 2 engine was hit and caught fire.
B-17 42-39761 / Fireball II Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Thompson E. White | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Valleau Wilkie Jr. | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Freed Warren Jr. | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Clyde L. Mellen | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Harry D. Kratz | EVD | - |
| BT | SGT | Walter R. Snyder | EVD | - |
| WG | SGT | Norman Elkin | EVD | - |
| WG | SGT | John H. Watson | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Hymen A. Hitow | POW | - |
| TOG | S/SGT | Peter A. Soderling | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 28 March 2021
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