B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-97579 / Local Mission

History of
B-17 42-97579 / Local Mission

Delivered Cheyenne 28/12/43; Kearney 14/1/44; Presque Is 24/1/44; Assigned 749BS/457BG [G] Glatton 23/2/44; 750BS; Missing in Action Le Bourget 14/6/44 with Roy Allen, Co-pilot: Verne Lewis, Navigator: Joe Brusse, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Roy Plum (4 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Ernie Smith, Ball turret gunner: Bill Goldsborough, Waist gunner: Leon Henson, Waist gunner: Gordon Long,Tail gunner: John Miller (5 evaded capture); Bombardier: Larry Anderson (Killed in Action); enemy aircraft KOd #2 & #3, crashed Combles, Fr; Missing Air Crew Report 5804. LOCAL MISSION.

Last updated: 17. August 2017

B-17 42-97579 / Local Mission Details

Plane 42-57979, named “Local Mission”, and flown by Lt Roy W. Allen was first hit by the fighter attack and engine #2 was knocked out. He was then hit by flak in the target area and #3 engine was also knocked out. The plane was set afire and left the formation. The crew all bailed out and Lt Allen was picked up by the French underground and hidden for many weeks. Posing as a civilian he was betrayed by the French and was taken prisoner by the Gestapo who treated him as a spy. He underwent rigourous interrorgation and was eventuall sent to Buchrnwald concentration camp. After a few months at this camp he convinced the Germans that he was indeed an airman and was thereafter a POW at Stalag III. He is the only 457th crewman to have been sentenced to a concentration camp. Lt Anderson was shot and killed in the air or otherwise killed after he bailed out.

Related web sites about the B-17 42-97579 / Local Mission

1. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/Fate/RLF058.HTML