Production-block:
B-17G-45-BO: 42-97173 to 42-97435
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 303rd Bomb Group
- 351st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 511th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: DS-X
MACR: 5326 / KSU/ME/KU: 2034
History of
B-17 42-97191 / Silver Ball
Delivered Cheyenne 5/2/44; Memphis 21/2/44; Presque Is 1/3/44; Assigned 303BG Molesworth 6/3/44; transferred 511BS/351BG [DS-X] Polebrook 25/3/44; Missing in Action 17m Dessau 28/5/44 with Carl Miller, Ball turret gunner: Isador Kaplowitz (2 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Maurice Fikes, Navigator: Russell Brown, n/g-Sgt Ernie Lemcke, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Frank Avry, Radio Operator: Jim McCann, Waist gunner: Albt Lien, Waist gunner: Tony Bushlow,Tail gunner: George Stafford (8 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed railroad near Flur Medlitz, nine miles NE of Zerbst, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 5326. SILVER BALL.
Last updated: 2. July 2022
B-17 42-97191 / Silver Ball Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Carl F. Miller | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Maurice G. Fikes | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Russel A. Brown | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Frank Avry | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | James D. McCann | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Isidor P. Kaplowitz | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Albert L. Lien | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Anthony J. Bushlow | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | George A. Stafford | POW | - |
| TOG | S/SGT | Ernest A. Lemcke | POW | - |
17. April 2018 access_time 3:05
Watching the Memphis Belle and Googling at my father’s plane and crew is amazing
Thanks to all those men and women World War II saved our asses but especially to all the B-17 bombers and Crews
15. March 2022 access_time 13:07
If it weren’t for the B-17 bombers General George Patton and the Jeep we’d all be speaking German and eating f****** sauerkraut. Now we’re looking at Putin invading Ukraine
27. May 2019 access_time 1:09
Ernie Lemcke, told me the story of the day they were shot down over Germany. He said “they were on Berlin raid , when a 20mm cannon shell hit him in the face and plane was going down and they bailed out”. He thanked the German doctors many times for putting his face back together . Became a POW. One of 9 flying enlisted men. Flew for KLM airline, flew A-26 attack air craft in Korea. C-130-s in Vietnam Nam. A-26 New York national guard. For more info. Roger Lemcke, Ossining, New York. Silver Ball.
18. December 2019 access_time 0:11
I’m currently researching Frank Avry, the engineer/turret gunner of this crew. I’d love to know more about the crew in general and their times in war.
15. March 2022 access_time 13:02
My father was the tail Gunner on the B-17 Flying Fortress the silver ball he was shot down the plane and crew was shot down he was a pow for 18 months approximately in a German p o w camp and thank God for General George Patton that liberated them only my father and one other person made it out of that p o w Camp alive the rest killed in action and the rest were killed in the p o w camp
23. June 2022 access_time 17:58
KJ Stafford. I may have some information for you about the day the Silver Ball went down. My uncle was the pilot.
16. December 2023 access_time 18:47
Hello that is awesome.
I just came back to site,. been a minute.
Your Dad was KIA sorry to say.
I was just reading.
They flew on 26 Missions together.
Kevin
16. December 2023 access_time 18:49
I meant to say your Uncle, My dad was the Tailgunner
15. July 2022 access_time 19:32
Martin,
Hopefully you will see this. I know you posted your comment almost 3 years ago. Anyway, my father met Frank Avry a number of years ago. He told Frank of my interest in WW2 history and Frank sent me a copy of a small book he wrote about his time in WW2. It is just loose paper that I’d be more than happy to scan and email to you. This comment also applies to anyone else interested in Frank Avry or the Silver Ball.
08. December 2024 access_time 23:33
Google,, Mission 376 Battle Over The Reich
28 May 1944.
A book.
KevinStafford.C21.com