B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-5773 / Scrubby Goat aka Impatient Virgin

History of
B-17 42-5773 / Scrubby Goat aka Impatient Virgin

Delivered Long Beach 18/1/43; Salina 27/1/43; Morrison 10/3/43; Assigned 429BS/2BG Massicault 14/8/43; Bizerte 2/12/43; Amendola 9/12/43; Missing in Action Albano 10/2/44 with Ray Bosmans, Co-pilot: Paul Horne, Navigator: George Carney, Bombardier: Bill Kemp, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Duane Nolder, Radio Operator: Cary Carter, Ball turret gunner: Ray Scott, Waist gunner: Leon Abel, Waist gunner: Bob Groover,Tail gunner: Frank Perry (10 Killed in Action); wing on fire & two engines out, crashed in Med Sea, Missing Air Crew Report 2206. SCRUBBY OL’ GOAT aka IMPATIENT VIRGIN.

Last updated: 1. November 2021

B-17 42-5773 / Scrubby Goat aka Impatient Virgin Details

S/Sgt Homer V. Brown, left waist gunner on B-17 No. 435, flying in the second wave, third squadron, second element, number three position.

When I first saw B-17 No, 773, it was at about 8:30 o’clock position, slightly below, about 4/500 yards away. I didn’t notice anything wrong with it. This was between 5/10 minutes after going over the target and we had just left the coast. B-17 No. 773 continued toward land and appeared to follow the coast line South-east of Anzio towards Circeo. The plane appeared to be under control and the last time I saw it, it was just before it reached Circeo. No one was seen to bail out and it was at about 5,000 feet, when last seen.

S/Sgt. Homer V. Brown

2nd Lt Thomas B. Frederick, pilot of B-17 No. 41-24435, flying in the second wave, second element, third squadron, number three position.

While on the bombing run, B-17 No. 773 had a flak hit under number two engine, which was feathered immediately. About five minutes later, I saw number four engine was feathered. The last time I saw B-17 No. 773 at 41-15N, 12-30E and it was headed toward Naples, the aircraft seemed to be under control and his altitude was about 6,500 feet.

2LT. Thomas B. Frederick

1st Lt James M. Long, pilot of B-17 No. 42-31429, flying in the second wave, third squadron, first element, number two position.

Approximately five minutes after bombs away, I noticed the right wing on plane number 775 was on fire at the rear of it In the vicinity of the number four engine. I called the pilot of B-17 No. 773 and told him about it and he feathered number four. Soon afterwards, he called me and asked if it was out but it was still turning, so B-17 No. 773 pulled out of formation and the pilot said he was going head for the nearest land. At that time, we were South-southwest of Anzio, about 11 miles. At this time, B-17 No. 773 had two good engines as number two also had been feathered on the bomb-run. This was the last I saw of B-17 No. 773 and the plane was in control and at about 10,500 feet. The flame did not appear to get any larger than it was the beginning which was about six inch flame coming from the slots at the aft position of the wing.

1Lt James M. Long

2nd Lt Theodore Griffith, co-pilot, on B-17 No. 41-24435, second wave, second element, third squadron, number three position.

I first noticed smoke from one of the inboard engines of B-17 No. 773 approximately five minutes before bombs-away. The engine was then feathered. We followed Plane #773 over the target. I next noticed that another engine was feathered, at this time we were on a course returning to the base and Plane #773 was still leading the squadron, approximately four minutes later I saw Plane #773 out of the formation and heading towards coordinates 41-12N 13-02E at about 6000 feet and the aircraft was under control.

2Lt Theodore Griffith (KIA 18 March 1944: #41-24435)

1st Lt. Edward E. Freedman, bombardier on B-17 No. 42-29579, flying in the second wave, third squadron, second element, and number two position.

While on the bombing run, I noticed number two engine on B-17 No. 773 smoking which gray-white color. Just before bombs away, this engine was feathered. As the turn was made off the target, a flak burst under the right wing of B-17 No. 773 caused it to weave a little. The pilot regained control of his plane and retained the lead of the formation until reaching the vicinity of Ponza Island at which time, he left the formation and headed for land at Circeo, Number three engine was feathered at about this time, and the plane was under control. No fire was visible. We were about 30 miles off shore at the time, and the last I saw of B-17 No. 773 when it was at 5/5,000 feet, headed for land.

1Lt. Edward E. Freedman

Source: MACR 2206

William P. Koch Crew with #42-5773

B-17 42-5773 / Scrubby Goat aka Impatient Virgin Crew