| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-20-VE: 42-97536 to 42-97635 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 447th Bomb Group, 463rd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 775th Bomb Squadron |
| Fate: |
, Salvaged (22 October 1945) |
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History of
B-17 42-97539
Delivered Cheyenne 15/12/43; Lakeland 6/1/44; Morrison 15/1/44; Assigned 447BG Rattlesden 16/2/44; transferred 775BS/463BG Celone 22/2/44; Salvaged 22/10/45.
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This page was last updated on 02 July 2018
21. February 2022 access_time 17:12
I recently located an 7 old photographs of B17 # 2-97539 along with 6 of its crew members. My father in law, Cornelius V. Snedeker, is in one of the crew members in one of the photos. If you would like to see copies of them please feel free to email me. Thank you.
11. June 2024 access_time 21:10
Hello, I would love to see the pictures you have. Trying to locate my grandpa’s plane. 2nd or 1st Lt William Everett Neely. He was a pilot B-17 463rd BG 775th Squadron Celone, Italy.
12. June 2024 access_time 15:38
Hello David,
I am not sure how to upload my photos to this website. I would be happy to email copies of them to you directly if you provide me with your email address. My direct email address is 1colingage@gmail.com
I believe the photos were taken in early 1944 at the crew’s base in Lakeland, Florida prior to deployment to Celone/Foggia, Italy or possibly somewhere enroute to Celone/Foggia or at Celone/Foggia before May 10, 1944. The aircraft 42-97539 was badly damaged by enemy fire while returning from a bombing mission to Wiener Neustadt, Austria, on May 10, 1944 and nearly crashed/ditched. The tail gunner on this mission, Mel Westrom, was severely injured and was hospitalized. The uninjured crew members were reassigned to a different B17 for future missions, tail number 42-31841. This aircraft was shot down two weeks later, on May 24, 1944, near Sostanj, Slovenia, while on a bombing mission to Aztgersdorf, Austria. I have seen several documents relating to my father-in-law and his fellow crew members but there is no reference anywhere to William Neely.
Feel free to email me and i’ll respond right away.
Thanks.
Colin G.
12. June 2024 access_time 15:39
Hello David,
I am not sure how to upload my photos to this website. I would be happy to email copies of them to you directly if you provide me with your email address. My direct email address is 1colingage@gmail.com
I believe the photos were taken in early 1944 at the crew’s base in Lakeland, Florida prior to deployment to Celone/Foggia, Italy or possibly somewhere enroute to Celone/Foggia or at Celone/Foggia before May 10, 1944. The aircraft 42-97539 was badly damaged by enemy fire while returning from a bombing mission to Wiener Neustadt, Austria, on May 10, 1944 and nearly crashed/ditched. The tail gunner on this mission, Mel Westrom, was severely injured and was hospitalized. The uninjured crew members were reassigned to a different B17 for future missions, tail number 42-31841. This aircraft was shot down two weeks later, on May 24, 1944, near Sostanj, Slovenia, while on a bombing mission to Aztgersdorf, Austria. I have seen several documents relating to my father-in-law and his fellow crew members but there is no reference anywhere to William Neely.
Feel free to email me and i’ll respond right away.
Thanks.
Colin G.