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Source:
www.americanairmuseum.com
Production-block:
B-17G-10-VE: 42-39958 to 42-40057
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 452nd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 730th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: 6K-P
Missions: 120
History of
B-17 42-39970 / E-Rat-Icator
Delivered Long Beach 22/10/43; Walla Walla 11/11/43; Assigned 730BS/452BG [6K-P] Deopham Green 3/11/43; landing accident with John Csoros 24/12/44; completed 128 missions the last of orginal aircraft assigned to survive WW II; retUS 121 BU Bradley 28/6/45; 4168 BU South Plains 12/9/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 28/11/45. E-RAT-ICATOR.
Last updated: 20. August 2020
B-17 42-39970 / E-Rat-Icator Details
Only B-17 to arrive with 452nd BG in England and return to the US serving the entire tour of the group. 120 recorded bombing missions and 138 recorded take-offs. Survived the war. Was originally the aircraft of the Jack Mitsch Crew.
20. October 2020 access_time 20:03
My great uncle was Ivan Hugh rich growing up I was always told this wastage plane he flew in Europe
24. August 2025 access_time 17:34
My Dad was Bill Gaines, B-17 pilot, 8th Air Force, 452nd Bomb Group, 730th Bomb Squadron. Ivan Rich was his co-pilot. They flew E-Rat-icator on 9 bombing missions from 3/15/1945 to 4/8/1945. On 4/24/1945, they flew E-Rat-icator on an instrument training mission for Ivan. They also flew it on a practice bombing mission on 5/11/1945, 3 days after VE Day. Source: my Dad’s personal logbook, confirmed by USAAF load manifests.
My Dad and Ivan remained best friends until Ivan passed away in 1990. My parents remained friends with Ivan’s wife Marjorie.
Chris, you are welcome to contact me. LarryG@b2osh.org
20. October 2020 access_time 20:05
My great uncle was Ivan Hugh rich growing up I was always told this was theplane he flew in Europe
15. December 2023 access_time 16:05
My Father in Law Jack Mitsch, was the original captain or the E-Rat-icator,
His original crew picked the plane up in Washington USA fluid to England and he promised to bring them all back safe and sound what he did after 32 missions.
Jack passed away in 2000
His crew continued to meet every year for 40 years. They are all gone now RIP Jack.
20. March 2024 access_time 14:29
My father was John W. Turner. He was a member of the first crew with Law Jack Mitch and was the top machine gunner and engineer of this plane. I miss him greatly.