| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-45-BO: 42-97173 to 42-97435 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 388th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 563rd Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 3776 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (11 April 1944) |
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History of
B-17 42-97241 / The Expectant Father
Delivered Cheyenne 10/2/44; Gr Island 4/3/44; Grenier 20/3/44; Assigned: 563BS/388BG Knettishall 22/3/44; MIA Rostock 11/4/44 Pilot: Edmund Ely, Co-Pilot: Fred Pratt, Navigator: Bill Ellis, Bombardier: Dave Ririe, Radio Operator: John Russell, Ball Turret Gunner: Vince Muffoletto (6POW); Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Leo Komoely, Waist Gunner: Harvey Ringer, Waist Gunner: Constantine Scourbys, Tail Gunner: Tom Neill (4KIA-baled over Baltic Sea); Enemy aircraft KOd #1, set fire to radio room, crash-landed Bad Doberan/ Mecklenburg, seven miles W of Rostock, Germany. MACR 3776
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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B-17 42-97241 / The Expectant Father Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Edmund J. Ely | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Frederick H. Pratt | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | William Lee Ellis Jr. | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | David Ririe | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Leo K. Kornoely | KIA | - |
| RO | S/SGT | John M. Russell | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Vincent J. Muffoletto | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Constantine G. Scourbys | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Harvey L. Ringer | KIA | - |
| TG | SGT | Thomas Neill | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 16 March 2018
07. September 2019 access_time 3:39
I worked on Ed Ely’s house for many years when he lived in Gettysburg PA . He was one of the nicest people I have ever met.
21. June 2022 access_time 21:16
My dad, William “Bill” Ellis Jr. was the navigator on the “Expectant Father.” The story of their plane was told in the book, “One Mission Man,” by David Ririe, the bombardier.
12. April 2023 access_time 1:59
Hello to anyone who is interested in the history on the B-17 “ The Expectant Father “ . Co-pilot Fredrick Pratt was my uncle. He married my father’s sister Gloria after the war and they stayed together for the duration of their lives. I’m now 66 , my family throughout our lives we’re spent with Uncle Fred and Aunt Gloria. My father and Fred were extremely close as my Dad was a 20 year Navy enlisted man and rose to become a chief serving also in WW2. Both had live tragedy and combat and suffering. My father lost his younger brother on USS Astoria in 1942 at Savo Island battle and Uncle Fred lost some of his crew during their mission. I just purchased a copy of David Ririe book One Mission Man to gain more insight to their struggles being captured and held as POW’s till the remainder of the war. We have many family cousins I know would like to know more about their story. Uncle Fred passed in 1998 was cremated. His ashes were scattered in the Sierra Nevada mountains that he loved so much. He and my Aunt were living in Bishop California till the end of their lives. I encourage my own daughter who is a flier herself to never forget the selfless action these brave men did to protect our freedom and country. God Bless you Uncle Fred and crew of the Expectant Father. Never Forgotten.
02. January 2024 access_time 0:34
Dear Mr.Ellis, I just like to inform you that we found the remain of the “Expectant Father” The wreck is in 6 m water deep close to the shore of the baltic town Rostock. The wreck is kown to local divers – but I just figure out which plane it was. vbr Carsten Standfuss
10. January 2024 access_time 13:36
Hello. Thank you for that. I am confused, though. Their plane was shot down over land, and crash-landed in a field.
27. September 2024 access_time 0:17
Hello Mr Ellis,
I seem to remember reading an interview with Mr. Ely once where he also describes the crash of “Expectant Father” and the area where it happened. Unfortunately I can no longer find the document.
“Expectant father” was one of two B17s that crashed near Bad Doberan on 11/4/44. Based on the information I read in the interview and from chronicles and eyewitnesses, the crash site is on the west side of Bad Doberan, near Jagddammweg.
—
Nevertheless, it would be interesting to know why it is assumed that the plane found under water should be “Expectant Father”
18. January 2025 access_time 21:40
My uncle was Vincent Muffoletto a member of The Expectant Father Crew. When he explained it, he said he was the guy in the body of the plane and upon orders he would release the bombs. (I know it’s listed as Turret Gunner but that’s what he told me.) One night in 1989, he told me the story of when they were shot down and what happened after they bailed out over the water. He and Johnny Russel were not officers and were taken POW and held in Stalag 17. The story is too long to write in these comments but, I understand why they were called The Greatest Generation.