| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-15-VE: 42-97436 to 42-97535 |
| Delievered: | Denver |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 351st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 510th Bomb Squadron, 511th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL: | TU-H, DS-H |
| MACR: | 5329 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | KU-2036 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft (28 May 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-97472
Delivered Denver 25/11/43; Kearney 18/12/43; New Castle 2/1/44; Presque Is 8/1/44; Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-H] Polebrook 25/2/44; 511BS [DS-H]; Missing in Action 23m Dessau 28/5/44 with Chas Anderson, Co-pilot: Bob McFetridge, Navigator: Bob Ryan, Bombardier: Bill Baird, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Neal Williams, Radio Operator: Casper Vecchioni, Ball turret gunner: George Nitzberg, Waist gunner: Bernard Matzke,Tail gunner: Ed Vamhom (9POW- all 510BS); enemy aircraft, crashed Westdorf, two miles S of Aschersleben, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 5329.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-97472 Details
2Lt. Charles F. Anderson was flying as pilot of aircraft #42-97472 on a mission to Dessau, Germany on May 28, 1944. He was flying in the No. 6 position, Low Squadron. Plane was lost to enemy aircraft after I.P. This is all that is known.
Capt. Robert H. Van Beynum
Ass’t S-2 Officer
Source: MACR 5329
B-17 42-97472 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Charles F. Anderson | POW | - |
| CP | F/O | Robert L. McFetridge | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Robert E. Ryan | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | William H. Baird | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Neal W. Williams | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Casper Vecchione | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | George P. Nitsberg | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Bernad J. Matzke | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Edward E. Vanhorn | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 14 March 2026
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