| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-40-BO: 42-97058 to 42-97172 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 96th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 337th Bomb Squadron |
| Fate: |
, Battle damaged, ditched (24 August 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-97166 / Old Gatemouth
Delivered Cheyenne 4/2/44; Kearney 15/2/44; Grenier 25/2/44; Assigned: 337BS/96BG [AW-‘] Snetterton 7/3/44; battle damage Chateaudun, Fr. 28/3/44 Pilot: Bill Young and Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Bob Hatch brought ship back to base (2RTD); Co-Pilot: Dallas Young, Waist Gunner: Ken Hurd (2EVD); Navigator: Jim Kramer, Bombardier: Max Preston, Radio Operator: Clarry Waterworth, Ball Turret Gunner: Asa Gill, Waist Gunner: Reece Pilkington, Tail Gunner: Bill Rogers all bailed out near Beaucerons, Fr. (6POW); MACR 3591; suffered battle damage again, on mission to Brux 24/8/44 w/Ray Bauman, (8RTD); ditched North Sea off Lowestoft, Sfk, UK. all rescued. OLD GATEMOUTH.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
This page was last updated on 19 October 2018
18. July 2023 access_time 1:44
My father was Max Preston the original Bombardier listed above. He spent 13 months as a POW in Stalag Luft 1 located in Barth, Germany in Northern Germany.
He passed away about 6 years ago at the age of 96.
He wasn’t one to talk about his war or POW experiences. He was a faith filled man of God and was the best of fathers. Miss him and Mom everyday!