B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-97683

History of
B-17 42-97683

Delivered Denver 26/1/44; 1SAG Langley 7/3/44; Grenier 7/4/44; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-M] Horham 8/4/44; lead ship t/o from Poltava, Russia for shuttle mission to Italy (Op Frantic IV) target Szolnok Afd, Hungary18/9/44 with Capt Jim Miller, Co-pilot: Bill Manning, Radio Operator: Paul Landrum, Waist gunner: Lou Cimbola,Tail gunner: Bob Graff, Col Carl Truesdell [mission pilot, Lt George Prokopec radar nav (7 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Bill Steele, Xn-Lyle Dallman, Bombardier: John Bromberg, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Hatton (4 Prisoner of War); flak KO’d #4, but limped on to crash landed Foggia, Italy; Missing Air Crew Report 10201. 18m, sal & repaired then re-assigned to 301BG 15th AF in Italy; transferred 352BS/301BG Lucera 28/10/44; Missing in Action Ruhland 15/3/45 with Dale Thornton, Narracci, Tyler, Stefko, Rury, Taylor, Lake, Yovich, Marich (9 Prisoner of War); Sanchez (Killed in Action); Missing Air Crew Report 12824.

Last updated: 29. December 2019

B-17 42-97683 Details

T/Sgt. Sandy Sanchez, KIA 15 March 1945. He flew 66 combat missions. The B-17 #42-97290 Smilin’ Sandy Sanchez was named after him.

Related web sites about the B-17 42-97683

1. https://www.spangdahlem.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/297216/the-history-behind-sanchez-hall/