| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-30-VE: 42-97736 to 42-97835 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 452nd Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 413th Bomb Squadron, 731st Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | U |
| MACR | 7828 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | 2576-2577 |
| Fate: |
, Mid-air collision (28 July 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-97764
Delivered Cheyenne 17/2/44; Denver 2/3/44; 1SAG Langley 30/5/44; Grenier 19/6/44; Assigned: 413BS/96BG Snetterton 29/6/44; MIA Merseburg 28/7/44 Pilot: Mel Franklin, (+ 452BG crew), Capt John Slusser, Norman Willbach, Frank Parker, Martin Guyette, Bill Crandall {mickey op} (6KIA); Warren Payne, Ray Keegan, F/O Harry Eastman {tg} (3POW); mid air coll, ‘ w/42-97616, crashed Merseburg, Germany. MACR 7828.
B-17 42-97764 Details
Mid-air-collision with B-17 #42-97616 Hi-Blower on 28 July 1944.
Following statement made by 1st Lt. John A. Zimmerman:
About three to four minutes after the I.P, we had another Combat Wing coming in to our left. After this Wing went in front of our Group we were bothered by prop wash. The lead aircraft (B-17G 42-97616) seemed to pass over on top of #2 (B-17G 42-97764) and at the same time both aircraft were apparently hit by prop wash. Also It is believed that the two aircraft were attempting to change positions so that 97764 would have the lead. They collided with A/C 764 hitting the rear section of A/C 616. The rest of the formation banked to the left to avoid the two aircraft.
One of the planes with its tail off descended rapidly for approximately 3,000 feet and then disintegated. Bombs were observed falling from this plane as apparently they had been salvoed. The other plane went into a vertical dive and disappeared into the clouds which were then at approximately, 10,000 feet. The tail gunner on one of the planes (believed to have been 616) parachuted. In addition there were five other chutes observed.
Source: MACR 7828
B-17 42-97764 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Melvin C. Franklin | KIA | - |
| CP | CPT | John E. Slusser | KIA | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Warren S. Payne | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Norman S. Willbach | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Frank H. Parker, Jr. | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Raymond J. Keegan | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Martin E. Cuyette | KIA | - |
| TG | F/O | Harold Eastman, Jr. | POW | - |
| NAV2 | 1LT | William C. Crandall | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 26 December 2021
03. May 2020 access_time 1:13
This was my grandfather’s plane. He was the pilot. The plane was called Lady Be Good.
15. August 2023 access_time 2:31
Im writing book on the loss of this plane and crew in collision.
16. February 2024 access_time 4:13
My grandfather was the navigator on the hi-blower that collided with this plane. Would love to read anything more about this incident.