B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-39893

History of
B-17 42-39893

Delivered Long Beach 30/9/43; Gr Island 1/11/43; Assigned 615BS/401BG [IY-J] Deenethorpe 2/1/44; Missing in Action Oschersleben 11/1/44; enemy aircraft KO’d #4 and set fire to bomb bay, ship disintegrated in mid-air crashed ten miles S of Oschersleben; Missing Air Crew Report 2505.

Last updated: 6. May 2025

B-17 42-39893 Details

Observations by Lt. Fred D. Grinham’s Crew:

Not long before target about 1140 hours, aircraft 42-39893 had a fire in No. 4 engine. It went along for about 5 minutes with this fire and then opened bomb bay doors. Fire came out of doors and increased as the aircraft went along.

Two men got out from up forward and opened chutes immediately. Then plane left formation and turned to right. It stayed with Wing formation for about three minutes.

Then aircraft started coming apart. Parts came off it (these may be have been men, it was hard to tell because of the distance). Ship then exploded.

Source: MACR 2505

B-17 42-39893 Crew