Source:
www.95thbg-horham.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-45-BO: 42-97173 to 42-97435 |
| Delievered: | Cheyenne |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 95th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 336th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | ET-S |
| MACR | 8892 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | 960A |
| Fate: |
, Failed to return (11 September 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-97334 / Haard Luck
Delivered Cheyenne 19/2/44; Gr Island 4/3/44; Dow Fd 4/4/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-S] Horham 4/4/44; on 24/5/44 with Frank Cobb, Co-pilot: John Waddell, Navigator: Lloyd Krueger, Bombardier: Walt Weakland, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Evanson, Radio Operator: Quentin Newswanger, Ball turret gunner: Frank Tomsey, Waist gunner: Herman Fleet, Waist gunner: Jim Krgrakis, Tail gunner: Ivy Ellender, all OK RTD, brakes locked up, left tyre burst and ran off end of runway; 45m Missing in Action Brux 11/9/44 with Vance Mooring, Co-pilot: Carl Swanson, Navigator: Alf Janson, Bombardier: Bob Woerke, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Stein, Radio Operator: Frank Aliveto, Ball turret gunner: Tom Merriman, Waist gunner: Bill Martin,Tail gunner: John Weber (9 Prisoner of War); left formation with right wing burning, crashed Schmalzgrube, near Erzgebirge, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 8892. HARD (HAARD) LUCK.
B-17 42-97334 / Haard Luck Details
Eye Witness Statements
B-17G 42-97334 piloted by 2nd Lt. Vance R. Mooring, was seen to be hit by fighters in the vicinity of 50°40’N-13°20’E at 1220 hours. A fire broke out on the left aileron which was not spreading. The aircraft swung off to the right then passed under the group to the left. The aircraft seemed to be under control, six men made delayed jumps and went into clouds below before chutes opened. The pilot called on radio that the was going to try to make France when last contacted.
Source: MACR 8892
B-17 42-97334 / Haard Luck Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Vance R. Mooring | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Carl R. Swanson | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Alfred P. Janson | POW | - |
| BOMB | F/O | Robert A. Moerke | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Charles P. Stein | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Frank Aliveto | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Thomas H. Merriman | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | William P. Martin | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | John G. Weber | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 17 January 2026
13. July 2020 access_time 3:54
Haard Luck 42-97334 was my grandfathers plane. He co-piloted her on her last mission. 2 books were written about this plane. The Trials and Tribulations of a Lady and Come Fly With Me. What both books fail to mention was the fact the Chuck Stein climbed down from the top turret and grabbed Carl Swanson’s (my grandfather) parachute and bailed out. My grandfather had to search around the doomed B17 and luckily found a parachute. All crew member were captured and spent the rest of the war as POW’s. They were treated extremely well by the Germans and were released after the war.
23. November 2020 access_time 20:30
Navigator Lloyd Krueger was my uncle. After the war he became an architect in Madison Wisconsin. He grew up in Schofield Wisconsin, a small village in Northern Wisconsin..
27. November 2020 access_time 20:45
My uncle was Lloyd Krueger. I have pictures of him in uniform but don’t know how to add.
27. November 2020 access_time 21:41
Hello Sten,
you can send me the picture via email to: info@b17flyingfortress.de
30. November 2020 access_time 18:15
Lloyd Krueger was my uncle. He married my mom’s sister. I have paid of him in uniform but don’t know how to add
30. November 2020 access_time 18:42
Hello Sten,
you can send me the picture via email to: info@b17flyingfortress.de