| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-45-BO: 42-97173 to 42-97435 |
| Delievered: | Cheyenne |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 306th Bomb Group, 398th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 368th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | BO-O |
| MACR | 8834 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | KU-2940 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (12 September 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-97368 / Tailwind
Delivered Cheyenne 23/2/44; Rapid City 10/3/44; Grenier 14/3/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 25/4/44; no ops, transferred 368BS/306BG [BO-O] Thurleigh 28/4/44; Missing in Action Ruhrland 12/9/44 with John Sasser (died in hospital under going mastoidectomy 20/3/45), Co-pilot: Jim McStay, Navigator: Tony Carlino, Bombardier: Bob Banta, Radio Operator: Gene Carroll,Tail gunner: Ray Wilson (6 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Virgil Mitchelson (WIA), Ball turret gunner: Art Schultz, Waist gunner: Dave Revolti (WIA) (3 Prisoner of War); flak, crash landed Massow, near Freyensein, Wittstock, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 8834. TAILWIND.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-97368 / Tailwind Details
Last sighted by 2Lt. William H. Macy (ship 42-31444) at approximately 52°40’N – 13°40’E at 27000 feet going down under control. Flak was moderate tracking and accurate.
One report states that No. 2 and 4 engines were out but aircraft was under control. Another report states that No. 3 engine was hit by anti-aircraft fire and spiralled into clouds.
One report states that 5 chutes came out. Another report states that no chutes came out.
Source: MACR 8834
B-17 42-97368 / Tailwind Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | John W. Sasser | KIA | Died in hospital 20 March 1945 |
| CP | 1LT | James T. McStay | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Anthony J. Carlino | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Robert E. Banta | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Virgil S. Mitchelson | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Eugene T. Carroll | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Arthur C. Schulttz | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | David R. Revolti | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Raymond M. Wilson | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 01 March 2026
30. September 2021 access_time 5:26
Hi there, would be very interested in where you acquired this photo and how you confirmed the aircraft in it. My wife’s grandfather was a bombardier on a B-17 called “Tailwind”. The serial number for the aircraft was 42-102391. Confirmed in photos and the MACR. More information here (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/1442). Noticed when I searched for information about this aircraft it was mix of his airplane and another (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/10471). Would love to confirm possibly if this is his aircraft. Look forward to finding out more!
30. September 2021 access_time 8:35
Hi there, would be very interested in where you acquired this photo and how you confirmed the aircraft in it. My wife’s grandfather was a bombardier on a B-17 called “Tailwind”. The serial number for the aircraft was 42-102391. Confirmed in photos and the MACR. More information here (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/1442).
Noticed when I searched for information about this aircraft it was mix of his airplane and another (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/10471).
Would love to confirm possibly if this is his aircraft. Look forward to finding out more!
30. October 2022 access_time 19:37
There were at least two B-17s named Tailwind, possibly more. The one I am aware of is #42-97368 of the 306th BG, 368th BS. The bombardier in its crew was Robert Banta, my brother-in-law’s older brother. This is the aircraft in the photo above. It was lost on Sept 12, 1944 near Massow, Germany enroute to a target near Ruhland. A fuller accounting of the loss of this aircraft can be found in the 306th Bomb Group Association publication “Echoes” (Summer and Fall 2013 issue) on their web site http://www.306bg.us.
03. November 2023 access_time 3:16
my grandfather was the captain and pilot on the b-17 tailwind sn#297368 his name was Willard hadjes he was a 1st Lt