| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-45-BO: 42-97173 to 42-97435 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 306th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 367th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | GY-K |
| MACR | 8833 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (12 September 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-97278 / Umbriago
Delivered Cheyenne 12/2/44; Rapid City 4/3/44; Gr Island 19/4/44; Dow Fd 21/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 25/4/44; no ops, transferred 367BS/306BG [GY-K] Thurleigh 12/5/44; Missing in Action Ruhland 12/9/44 with Chas Wagener, Co-pilot: Bill Griffin, Navigator: Don Marsh, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Stroyoff(4 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Bill Sewart, Radio Operator: Jack Krahn, Ball turret gunner: John Eden, Waist gunner: Bill Gardiner,Tail gunner: Henry Rodgers (5 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Uedersee, near Eberswalde, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 8833. UMBRIAGO.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-97278 / Umbriago Details
About 25 FW 190’s attacked Low Group (the group in which Lt Wegener was flying) from 11 o’clock high firing at Group to left with one pass, then turned and came at us from 6 o’clock low, in five waves of three to four aircraft each, half rolled beneath our formation and fell away steeply.
B-17G #42-97278 ‘Umbriago’s no 3 engine on fire. Tail shot away. Slid off to side of formation. Four parachutes seen.
Source: MACR 8833
B-17 42-97278 / Umbriago Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Charles C. Wegener | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | William F. Griffin | POW | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Donald C. Marsh | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | William C. Stewart, Jr. | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Joseph Stroyoff | UNK | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Jack P. Krahn | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | John V. Eden | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | William V. Gardiner | KIA | - |
| TG | SGT | Henry H. Rodgers | KIA | Last mission to complete Duty (?) |
This page was last updated on 13 June 2021
09. June 2023 access_time 15:20
There were many aircraft sporting the Nose Art – “Umbriago”. Most were named after the popular Jimmy Durante hit song by the same name. In the song Umbriago was Jimmy’s imaginary friend whose abilities were outstanding and filled with a certain flair and serendipity flavor on life. I think and many agree that Jimmy named his friend Umbriago because in Italian folklore Umbriago is a friendly, lusty, happy little man who is always the life of the party. It was also as slang for being intoxicated or shall we say, drunk. Here is a clue in the words of his song. “So, if you feel low, better send for my friend, Umbriago!”