zoom_in
Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17F-25-VE: 42-5805 to 42-5854
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 381st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 535th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: MS-X
MACR: 1723
Missions: 19+
History of
B-17 42-5846 / Tinker Toy
Delivered Long Beach 19/3/43; Pueblo 10/4/43; Smoky Hill 6/5/43; Presque Is 21/5/43; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-X] Ridgewell 26/5/43 with Capt Landon Hendricks, Capt John Hamilton, M/Sgt Marshall Peavey line chief, M/Sgt Rhea Rutherford radio, Lt Ernie Murray, Lt Gerald Platz HQ, Lt George Kelly HQ, S/Sgt Mike Duffy HQ, T/Sgt Gerald Reisen HQ; Missing in Action 19+m Bremen 20/12/43 with Dorman Lane, Co-pilot: John Johnston, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Peanoske (3 Prisoner of War), Navigator: Everett Anderson, Bombardier: Dick Mitchell, Radio Operator: Alphonse Melchiorre, Ball turret gunner: Henry Cramer, Waist gunner: Bill Hrapsky, Waist gunner: Joe Fecko,Tail gunner: Frank McDonald (7 Killed in Action); coll with Me109, crashed Ganderksee, three miles W of Delmenhorst, near Bremen, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 1723. (A/c shown in film shot in Hers To Hold, with Deanna Durbin). TINKERTOY.
Last updated: 12. June 2022
B-17 42-5846 / Tinker Toy Details
Photo shows #42-5846 / Tinker Toy after returning from the October 8,1943 mission to Bremen, Germany. A German fighter attacking the bomber hit it in the cockpit with 20mm cannon shells, decapitating the pilot, 1st Lt. William J. Minerich (O-795807), and wounding the copilot, 2nd Lt. Thomas D. Sellers (O-678337), in the left arm. The cockpit was completely covered in blood and brain matter but Lt. Sellers, with the help of T/Sgt. Henry L. Miller – Engineer/Top Turret Gunner (33206929) flew the plane home and kinda safely landed her, ground looping it. The plane was such a bloody mess that the top turret gunner couldn’t stand in his turret without slipping… Sellers had to fly the plane for probably 3 hours in that cockpit.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/18532986@N07/4851640230/
B-17 42-5846 / Tinker Toy Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Dorman F. Lane | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | John B. Johnston | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Everett S. Anderson | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Richard M. Mitchell | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | John Peanoske | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Alphonso Melchiorre | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | Henry Cramer, Jr. | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | William V. Hrapsky | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Joseph Fecho | KIA | - |
| TG | SGT | Frank H. McDonald | KIA | - |
22. October 2022 access_time 6:32
I have a family photo of the tinker toy plane in the air taken from another plane. would you be interested
22. October 2022 access_time 9:11
Hello Darrell,
thank you for your message. I have sent you an email 🙂
Please check!
Cheers
Jing
28. November 2023 access_time 12:54
Dorman Lane, the last pilot of Tinker Toy was a friend of mine. I would love to see the photo of Tinker Toy in the air. I hope it shows Dorm flying it!
15. February 2024 access_time 17:09
I would love a picture. I am a good friends with William Minerich nephew. He would love that picture!
04. March 2024 access_time 4:23
Good day all, I am the nephew of 2nd LT. Everet Anderson the aviator of this Flying Fortress, he was KIA two decades before I was born and I am curious as to who he is in any of these photos. I am one of the last surviving family members left, so I don’t have any to ask. Thank you