| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-15-VE: 42-97436 to 42-97535 |
| Delievered: | Denver |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 92nd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 407th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | PY-O |
| MACR | 2254 |
| Fate: |
, Mid-air collision (30 January 1944) |
| Missions: | 37 |
History of
B-17 42-97441
Delivered Denver 17/11/43; Kearney 30/11/43; Bangor 13/12/43; Assigned 407BS/92BG [PY-O] Podington 10/1/44; Missing in Action Brunswick 30/1/44 with Dave Russell, Co-pilot: Alex Xanthos, Navigator: Freeman Hawthorne, Bombardier: Theo Mathers, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lonni Efird, Radio Operator: Elmer Spark, Waist gunner: Francis O’Brien,Tail gunner: Claude Green (8 Killed in Action); Ball turret gunner: Ralph Chapman, Waist gunner: Curtis Wilheim (2 Prisoner of War); mid air coll with 42-30008, crashed between Ehlerhausen & Ramlingen, five miles N of Burgdorf, 26 miles NW of Brunswick, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 2254.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-97441 Details
Mid air collision with B-17 #42-30008 ‘Ready Teddy’
Eyewitness Statement
I was tail gunner on B-17G 42-31494, and we were flying Lead Ship, Second Element, Low Squadron, Lead Group. I first noticed the ships when a big burst of flame caught my eye. I saw the two ships, one on top of the other. The bottom ship was in flames. Suddenly the bottom ship exploded. The explosion of the lower ship tore the left wing of the upper ship and as it started to go down, it exploded too. The lower ball turret fell out from the lower ship. No parachutes were seen.
S/Sgt. Alexander L. Phillips
Source: MACR 2254
B-17 42-97441 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | David C Russell | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Alexander Xanthos | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Freeman H Hawthorne | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Theodore K Mathers Jr | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Lonnie M Efird | KIA | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Elmer Sparks Jr | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Ralph E Chapman | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Francis J O'Brien | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Curtis L Wilhelm | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Clyde L Green | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 15 March 2026
04. February 2023 access_time 19:45
I knew and worked with Curtis L Wilhelm waist gunner on this collision. One day he came to my office sat down and told me the story In great detail. He said to hear the whole thing it’ll take a half hour. It did and then some!
06. March 2023 access_time 20:53
I am researching Clyde Green who was killed in action in the collision. I would very much love to hear the story. Richard Ferry (904) 553-8526
19. January 2024 access_time 17:30
My grandfather was Ralph Chapman, the BT Gunner. Every time I saw him I would make him tell me about it and his time as a POW. Although I’m pretty sure he sugar coated a lot of details.
18. March 2024 access_time 1:28
My grandfather was Curtis Wilhelm, the other survivor of this plane. I was always amazed to hear his stories and it was crazy to me to know the only other survivor was the ball turret gunner. I would love to hear about your grandfathers story and how he survived the crash and the aftermath!