B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-5139 / Chief Sly II

History of
B-17 42-5139 / Chief Sly II

Delivered Cheyenne 2/10/42; West Palm Beach 14/12/42; Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-V] Bassingbourn 13/3/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Joel Gatewood, Navigator: Dan Downy, Bombardier: Harry Hammond, Waist gunner: Tom Parfitt (4POW-all caught after nine days at Saarbrucken), Co-pilot: George Riegel, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Canada, Radio Operator: Dan Butler, Ball turret gunner: Stanford Adams, Waist gunner: George Hite,Tail gunner: Fred Pearce (6 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft KO’d #3 & #4 and wing on fire, crashed Geisenheim, 12 miles W of Weisbaden, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 276. CHIEF SLY II.

Last updated: 21. May 2020

B-17 42-5139 / Chief Sly II Details

Observations made by S/Sgt. Norbert G. Mathias

An aircraft in our group right behind and to our right believed to be A/C 139 with #3 and #4 engine out and whole wing on fire was seen to hit the ground 10 miles south of Aachen at 1405 hours. It is believed that 4 parachutes came from this aircraft.

B-17 42-5139 / Chief Sly II Crew