Production-block:
B-17G-1-VE: 42-39758 to 42-39857
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 303rd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 427th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: GN-R
MACR: 2260
History of
B-17 42-39786 / G.I. Sheets
Delivered Long Beach 30/8/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-R] Molesworth 18/10/43; Missing in Action Frankfurt 29/1/44 with Jim Fowler, Bombardier: Alvin Taylor {Wounded in Action}, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Curtis Finley, Radio Operator: Don Dinwiddle,Tail gunner: Jack Ferguson {Wounded in Action} (5 Prisoner of War), Co-pilot: Bernie Rawlings, Navigator: Joe Thompson {Wounded in Action}, Ball turret gunner: Dick Arrington, Waist gunner: Loren Zimmer (4 evaded capture via Spain, Sept ‘44), Waist gunner: Miller Jackson (Killed in Action); feathered #3 & #4 KO’d, hit by Fw190, crashed Soire St Gery, 17 miles SW of Charleroi, Bel; Missing Air Crew Report 2260. G.I. SHEETS.
Last updated: 11. September 2017
24. February 2021 access_time 1:49
My father-in-law was Don Dinwiddie, the radio operator of this crew. To make a correction, the only crew member to make it back to England via Spain was Barney Rawlings, the co-pilot. Arrington, Thompson, and Zimmer were hidden by the Belgian underground and were liberated by British troops in September ’44. Don and Jim Fowler, the pilot, were captured in Lille, France in May ’44 while being moved through the underground network. Al Taylor and Jack Ferguson were taken to a local hospital after the crash landing and were soon captured by the Germans. Thompson was severely wounded but refused to go to hospital, was treated by local doctors in secrecy. Curt Finley was being hidden/moved by underground but was captured by the Germans just before entering Spain. Waist gunner Miller Jackson died of wounds because he had removed his flak jacket before the fighter attack, and suffered mortal wounds.