| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-40-BO: 42-97058 to 42-97172 |
| Delievered: | Cheyenne |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 303rd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 427th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | GN-T |
| MACR | 5986 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (21 June 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-97096
Delivered Cheyenne 27/1/44; Alexandra 22/2/44; Grenier 20/3/44; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-T] Molesworth 8/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 21/6/44 with Chas Allen, Co-pilot: Jim Parham, Navigator: John Thurmon, Bombardier: Lou Bourgeault, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Kelley, Ball turret gunner: Lee Knedler, Waist gunner: Bob Bohenstiel,Tail gunner: Ed Stansbury (9 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: John Reed (Killed in Action); flak, crashed Schweilowsee Lake, five miles S of Havel, SW of Potsdam, Berlin, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 5986.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-97096 Details
Eyewitness Statement
On the mission to Berlin, Germany, on 21 June 1944, I was pilot of aircraft 42-102569 which was flying in #3 position in the low squadron of the low group of the 41st „B“ Combat Wing. The missing aircraft, #42-97096, was flying in #1 position in the same squadron.
Just after bombs away, the missing aircraft received a direct hit from anti-aircraft gunfire. The missing aircraft then slid out of formation to the left. Then I saw three men come out of the main door of the fuselage.
I did not see them pull their chutes.
Either this aircraft or the aircraft flying in #4 position which went down at the same time, I am not sure which, then went into a steep dive. Then it pulled out and leveled off. The missing aircraft was not seen thereafter.
When last seen, it was still flying, was not on fire and had no feathered propellors.
1Lt. Chester N. Oranges
My radio man name was John Reed, from Douglas, Arizona. He was told to bail out and when last seen he was hanging over the target. The next day after my capture I saw all the crew except Reed and neither the crew nor I saw or heard anything from him again.
S/Sgt. Robert L. Bohenstiel
Source: MACR 5986
B-17 42-97096 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Charles R. Allen | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | James S. Parham | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | John A. Thurmon | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Louis H. Bourgeault | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | John D. Kelly | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | John A. Reed | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Lee F. Knedler | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Robert L. Bohenstiel | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Edward P. Stansbury | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 25 January 2026
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