B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-97797 / Full House

History of
B-17 42-97797 / Full House

Delivered Denver 28/2/44; Kearney 18/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-H] Horham 8/4/44; transferred 336BS, (ET–H); 49m, Missing in Action Brandenburg 16/8/44 with Alan Hannum, Co-pilot: Ken Loehwing, Navigator: Gene Cantrell, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dick Kuna, Ball turret gunner: Fred Matthews, Waist gunner: Ned Tillson (6 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Angelo Genova, Radio Operator: Bill Purdy, Waist gunner: John Sharonwia-335BS,Tail gunner: Leroy Presley (4 Prisoner of War); flak KO’d #3 and part of wing, ship went down and was involved in mid-air collision with 42-37879, crashed Rehmsdorf, NE of Zeitz, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report 8175. FULL HOUSE.

Last updated: 8. December 2021

B-17 42-97797 / Full House Details

Hit by flak and then mid-air-collision with B-17 #42-37879 ‘Wrinkled Belly Baby’ on 16 August 1944.

B-17G 42-97797 piloted by 1st Lt. Allan E. Hannum, Jr., was seen to receive direct hit by flak in the right wing, over the target of Zeitz, Germany at 1135 hours. There was an explosion near #3 engine which knocked most of the right wing off. The aircraft slipped out of formation and about a minute later the aircraft was seen to disintegrate in the air. Four chutes were reported as having left the aircraft.

Source: MACR 8175

B-17 42-97797 / Full House Crew