B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-39869 / Heaven Can Wait

History of
B-17 42-39869 / Heaven Can Wait

Delivered Long Beach 25/9/43; Gr Island 6/10/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-R] Horham 15/10/43; Ball turret gunner: Joe Lintelman (Killed in Action) 18/3/44; 42m, Missing in Action Rostock 11/4/44 with Rich Bannerman, Co-pilot: Wallace Lillo, Navigator: Tom Sefcik, Bombardier: Irving Wilson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Phil Rashead, Radio Operator: Tom Gopigian, Ball turret gunner: Ray DeYaeger, Waist gunner: Roland Carlson, Waist gunner: Chas Skully,Tail gunner: John Backowski (10 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Dummersdtorf, near Bandelsdorf, six miles SE of Rostock, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3806, HEAVEN CAN WAIT.

Last updated: 13. September 2020

B-17 42-39869 / Heaven Can Wait Details

B-17G 42-39869 piloted by 1st Lt. Richard P. Bannerman, and identified as “Heaven Can Wait”, was under attack by FW-190s just before the target. A/C had a hole in the right aileron and another in the right wing where the main gas tanks are located. A/C winged over to the left and back in a slicing dive, gas spraying out and enveloping the A/C in flames. No chutes were seen to leave the Aircraft.

Source: MACR 3806

B-17 42-39869 / Heaven Can Wait Crew