Source:
Our Colorful History
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-40-BO: 42-5150 to 42-5249 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 303rd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 359th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | BN-P |
| MACR | 15593 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (14 May 1943) |
History of
B-17 42-5243 / FDR’s Potato Peeler Kids
Delivered Tulsa 23/10/42; Wendover 5/12/42; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-P] Molesworth 29/1/43; Missing in Action Kiel 14/5/43 with Capt Ross Bales, Co-pilot: Walt Dooley, Navigator: Dan McColl, Bombardier: Rhude Mathis, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Kilgore, Radio Operator: Ray Winter, Ball turret gunner: Joe Zsampar, Waist gunner: Jack Snell, Waist gunner: Francis O’Reilly body washed up 10/8/43,Tail gunner: Ed Van Ravenstein (10 Killed in Action); shot down by enemy aircraft; ditched near Heligoland Is, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 15593. F.D.R.’s POTATO PEELER KIDS.
B-17 42-5243 / FDR’s Potato Peeler Kids Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | CPT | Ross C. Bales | KIA | - |
| CP | 1LT | Walter E. Dooley | KIA | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Daniel A. McColl | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | Ruhde M. Mathis | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Raymond H. Kilgore | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Raymond K. Winter | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Joseph G. Zsampar | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Francis N. O'Reilly | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Edward A. Van Ravenstein | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Jack D. Snell | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 21 February 2021
14. May 2025 access_time 22:13
Today is the 82nd anniversary of the plane’s loss. May they rest in peace. https://www.facebook.com/groups/9261317727/permalink/10162986098642728/
15. May 2025 access_time 15:56
42-37842 ” Miss Boo ” was my Dad’s plane. It crashed in vicinity of Wettringen, Germany. As my Dad bailed and landed on main street of Wettringen, where German reports say he was captured. Was on April 8, 1944. He flew in the 447th BG, on his 20th mission. I’ve been in contact with the Wettringen town historian, he believes the crash site is west of Wettringen.
15. May 2025 access_time 15:57
and i forgot to include link to the MACR ,
https://447bg.smugmug.com/MISSING-AIR-CREW-REPORTS/4237842/i-Kx4qQjh/A