Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-25-VE: 42-5805 to 42-5854 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 381st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 535th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL: | MS-X |
| MACR: | 1723 |
| Fate: |
, Mid-air collision with e/a (20 December 1943) |
| 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.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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 (First Name, Middle Initial, Last 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 | - |
This page was last updated on 12 June 2022
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!
11. May 2026 access_time 2:36
I would really like to see the photo of Tinker Toy in the air. I can make a copy, restore and/or enhance it, and return it (or send me a digital image). My cousin, Lt. Sidney Novell, was the navigator on Tinker Toy when he was KIA by flak over Hanover on 26 July 1943.
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
24. December 2024 access_time 13:26
I am the great nephew of William Hrapsky I would love any addition photos or knowledge anyone would like to share.
19. April 2025 access_time 22:05
Alphonse Melchiorre was my uncle. Would love to communicate with any family members
28. August 2025 access_time 16:27
I recently went on a cruise and met a gentleman by the name of Tony who says that Alphonso A Melchiorre was his uncle.
18. December 2025 access_time 4:12
My Great Grandpa was a Radio Operator, not sure what bomber he was on but he has pictures of Tinker Toy and 2 other bombers including some in the air.
11. May 2026 access_time 2:32
If you could send me the digital images of the 2 photos you have, I can restore and print them. My cousin, Lt. Sidney Novell, was the navigator on 26 July 1943 when he was KIA by flak over Hanover.
11. May 2026 access_time 2:28
My cousin, Lt. Sidney Novell, was the navigator on Tinker Toy over Hanover on 26 July 1943, when he was fatally injured by flak. This was my cousin’s first combat mission and he was the only crewman wounded on the airplane, which took on a reputation of being “unlucky.”
If anyone has a photograph of the crew, or any information prior to that date, which may include Lt. Novell, please contact me. It would mean alot.
Thanks in advance.