Source:
www.95thbg-horham.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-5-VE: 42-39858 to 42-39957 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 95th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 412th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | QW-R |
| MACR | 3806 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | 1480 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (11 April 1944) |
| Missions: | 42 |
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.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Richard P. Bannerman | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Wallace C. Lillo | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Thomas A. Sefcik | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Irving Wilson | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Phillip M. Rashead | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Thomas Gopigian | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Raymond A. DeYaeger | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Roland L. Carlson | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Charles H. Scully | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | John J. Backowski | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 13 September 2020
13. September 2020 access_time 17:38
Please correct the navigator’s name in details of Heaven Can Wait. It is Thomas Sefcik and not Smecik. Thank you !
13. September 2020 access_time 19:20
Hello Karen,
I have corrected the name to Sefcik.
Cheers
Jing
09. March 2023 access_time 13:08
Hi Karen! Since over 10 years we deal in a school club with the destinies of american airmens shot down near my hometown Rostock.