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Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17F-15-VE: 42-5745 to 42-5764
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 91st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 401st Bomb Squadron
- RCL: LL-F
MACR: 514
Missions: 17
History of
B-17 42-5763 / Bomb Boogie
Delivered Long Beach 29/12/42; Salina 7/1/43; Homestead 14/2/43; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-F] Bassingbourn 9/3/43; Missing in Action 17m Stuttgart 6/9/43 with Elwood Arp, Co-pilot: Howard Sherman, Bombardier: Chauncey Hicks returned via Spain, Ball turret gunner: Russ Hatton (4 evaded capture), Navigator: Nathan Weltman captured in Paris Dec 43, ttg-Ray Thompson, Radio Operator: John Wenninghoff, Waist gunner: Norbert Swierz, Waist gunner: Dean Millward,Tail gunner: Don Hayes (6 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft KO’d #3, crashed Mons-en-Pevele, near Lille, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 514. BOMB-BOOGIE.
Last updated: 21. June 2024
B-17 42-5763 / Bomb Boogie Details
At 0840 hours, 16000 feet, at 49°30’N – 03°35’E, A/C No. 763 was last seen going down under control. Two yellow-nosed FW-190’s attacked formation at 3 o’clock. After this attack, our A/C fell out of formation, jettisoned its bombs, and headed down slowly. A/C was last seen going into clouds. As many as 6 chutes were reported seen, and a few crew members reported seeing some crew members of A/C No. 763 making delayed jumps.
Source: MACR 514
B-17 #42-5763 / Bomb Boogie Photos
B-17 42-5763 / Bomb Boogie Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Elwood D. Arp | EVD | - |
| CP | 2LT | Howard W. Sherman | EVD | Other sources said NMI, MI was N. |
| NAV | 2LT | Nathan Weltman | EVD | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Chauncey Harold Hicks | EVD | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Raymond R. Thompson | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | John H. Wenninghoff | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Russel D. Hatson | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Norbert F. Swierz | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Dean W. Millward | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Donald L. Hayes | POW | - |
30. April 2018 access_time 13:47
Norbert Swierz is my daughter in laws grandfather, talked to him several times, I also Have a signed copy of his book that he wrote he give it to me cause he had some car issues several times and I help him out.
16. November 2019 access_time 16:23
My Dad John Wenninghoff III was the radio operator on the Bomb Boogie. Can you give me any more information. Such as how many missions? Thanks
10. March 2020 access_time 2:57
My father Donald Hayes was the tail gunner. They flew 10 missions and were shot down September 6, 1943 on their 11th.
16. September 2023 access_time 20:45
Hi, Naomi.
I’m just about to start reading Maureen’s book.
31. May 2022 access_time 5:05
Dean Millward was my great uncle and one of the waist gunners on the “Bomb Boogie”. He was a saxophone player and though he never said he contributed to the naming of the plane, I would not be surprised if in fact he did. He injured his leg on the parachute jump when the plane was shot down and was captured by the German army; spending the remainder of the war being marched from prison camp to prison camp. During those marches, they would capture and eat any animals they were able to (mostly rabbits) eating them raw because of the intense hunger they suffered. One of the camps he said he was in was stalag 17 and according to his narrative, there in fact was a Sargent they called Schulz. He, like many POWs,was fed a lot of ice cream and other foods that facilitated fast weight gain as they convalesced. He rarely spoke of the war as is the case with most veterans. I have always appreciated and been awed by his and all veterans of any war and their innumerable sacrifices and the trauma they endured so that the oppressed might regain and retain their freedom.
11. August 2023 access_time 23:21
2nd Lt Nathan Weltman was likely captured soon after crash. Here is record from U.S., World War II American and Allied Prisoners of War, 1941-1946
Name Nathan Weltman
Race White
Residence Place Michigan, USA
Report Date 6 Sep 1943
Latest Report Date 21 Jul 1945
Grade Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide
Grade Notes Second Lieutenant or Ensign
Arm or Service Air Corps
Arm or Service Code Air Corps
Organization Type L80
Parent Unit Type Unit/Area/100th Infantry Division
Area Served European Theatre: Germany
Detaining Country Germany
Camp Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12
Status Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
Report Source Individual has been reported through sources considered official.
12. August 2023 access_time 2:32
Raymond Ray Thompson was interned at Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15 6 Sep 1943 – 17 Jul 1945
18. June 2024 access_time 23:57
Hi,
The Copilot’s name was Howard W. Sherman. Not Howard N. He was my farther. Please make the correction.
Thanks
21. June 2024 access_time 7:18
Thanks, I have made the correction.
08. September 2024 access_time 17:10
My great uncle was Ralph Streicher who was a pilot . I am trying to find out what his service information with the Bomb Boogie was.