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Source:
www.americanairmuseum.com
Production-block:
B-17G-45-BO: 42-97173 to 42-97435
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 385th Bomb Group
- 452nd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 550th Bomb Squadron
- 728th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: SG-B, 9Z-B
MACR: 4589 / KSU/ME/KU: 1763
History of
B-17 42-97220 / Kickapoo Joy Juice
Delivered Cheyenne 8/2/44; Gr Island 23/2/44; Grenier 13/3/44; Assigned 550BS/385BG [SG-B] Gt Ashfield 15/3/44; transferred 728BS/452BG [9Z-B] Deopham Green 16/3/44; Missing in Action Berlin 8/5/44 with Howard Morehouse, Co-pilot: Jim Fitzpatrick, Navigator: Ed Plank, Bombardier: Herb Becker, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ernie Smith, Radio Operator: George KellyWounded in Action, Ball turret gunner: Delbert FentonWounded in Action, Waist gunner: Bill King, Waist gunner: Jim ClarkWounded in Action,Tail gunner: Dan Wilkerson (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft set left wing on fire, crashed E of Runingen, two miles S of Brunswick, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 4589. KICKAPOO JOY JUICE.
Last updated: 30. August 2023
B-17 42-97220 / Kickapoo Joy Juice Details
The formation was attacked by about 17 FW 190s coming in from the vicinity of one o’clock. Aircraft 42-97220 was hit and the left wing caught fire. The flame blazed toward #2 engine. The plane peeled off and almost immediately went into a vertical dive. No chutes were observed although it was impossible, due to the undercast, widening distance and preoccupation with warding off enemy attacks, to follow #220 all the way down.
2Lt. Austin F. Casselberry
Source: MACR 4589
B-17 42-97220 / Kickapoo Joy Juice Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Howard K. Morehouse | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | James Fitzpatrick | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Edward H. Plank | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Herbert W. Backer | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Ernest F. Smith | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | George W. Kelly | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Delbert C. Fenton | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | William F. King | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | James E. Clark | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Daniel D. Wilkerson, Jr. | POW | - |
26. September 2024 access_time 0:00
Herbert Becker was born in 1917 and was a bit older than many of the crew, which was part of the reason why he had nickname “Poor Old Herb,” a name that stuck for the rest of his life. Bellyaching was also part of the reason for the name. I can share a few stories about the first POW camp near the Polish border. Dad didn’t tell Mom or his 3 daughters many details about the war, but he did share with other men, I believe. He did tell me some POW camp stories, though. His good friend was Fitzpatrick and I believe they were together at least part of the time in that camp. Herb became a 1st Lieutenant by the end of the war. He is buried at Fort Snelling. He was born at White Bear Lake, Minnesota and lived in Roseville, Minnesota just outside St.Paul for his whole married life. Please write me!
26. September 2024 access_time 0:03
Forgot to say that Herb was bombardier.