Source:
www.americanairmuseum.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-15-VE: 42-97436 to 42-97535 |
| Delievered: | Denver |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 452nd Bomb Group, 482nd Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 413th Bomb Squadron, 728th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL: | MZ-A, 9Z-? |
| MACR: | 11049 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (25 November 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-97534 / Pee Wee aka Patches
Delivered Denver 14/12/43; Newark 11/1/44; Langley 12/1/44; Assigned 482BG (H2X) Alconbury 25/1/44; transferred 413BS/96BG [MZ-A] Snetterton 25/1/44 PEE WEE; 728BS/452BG (9Z- ] Deopham Green 26/1/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 25/11/44 with Irving Cohen, Co-pilot: Dick Washburn, Navigator: Cecil Vandervort, Bombardier: Jim Hartman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lyall Ehret, Ball turret gunner: Ervin Roesch,Tail gunner: Don Yee (7 Killed in Action); Radio Operator: Gene Krachenfels{Wounded in Action}, Waist gunner: Albt Mitchell (2 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Harren, N of Aachen, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 11049. PATCHES.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-97534 / Pee Wee aka Patches Details
Aircraft B-17G 42-97534 went over the target with the formation. On the route back 534 started lagging although the reason for doing so was not apparent. The aircraft was last sighted flying under control on the route back at a point somewhere between the coordinates given and Frankfurt.
2Lt. Alfred J. Densmore
Note by Jing: Coordinates are not in MACR 11049. The page is missing.
We were not shot down over target, but on the return trip after leaving the formation to head for Brussels Belgium. We were at approximately 4,000 feet and believed we were over friendly territory.
The plane exploded and I was blown clear and did not see the plane crash and was told later that it was at Oberkirchen (Country unknown) that I was captured.
S/Sgt. Eugene N. Krachenfels
My name is Albert D. Mitchell, Sergeant, 19116652, Air Corps. That I was formerly assigned with the 452nd Bomb Group, 729 Squadron, and that I was personally acquainted with 2nd Lt. Irving Cohen.
That we had departed on a mission on or about 25 November 1944 and after completing the run on the target, were returning from Merseburg, Germany. After arriving somewhere near the Belgium border, our plane was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft. I was the first to leave the ship and I did not see any other members of the crew leave the ship. The aircraft crash-landed.
That I was captured immediately. The Germans told me that one other crew member escaped and his name is Sergeant Eugene N. Krachenfels, and I was told that the remaining members of the crew were killed.
I feel reasonably certain that not having seen any of the members of the crew afterwards and based upon what the Germans told me, that the only two who escaped with their lives were Sergeant Krachenfels and myself.
Sgt. Albert D. Mitchel
Source: MACR 11049
B-17 42-97534 / Pee Wee aka Patches Crew
| Position | Rank | Name (First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name) | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Irving Cohen | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Richard P. Washburn | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Cecil C. Vandervort | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | James E. Hartman | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Lyall R. Ehret | KIA | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Eugene N. Krachenfels | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Ervin J. Roesch | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Albert D. Mitchel | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Donald Yee | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 13 June 2026
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