B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-97899

B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies 42-97899
General
Manufacturer: Lockheed/Vega
Production-Block: , B-17G-35-VE: 42-97836 to 42-97935
Operational History
Bomb Group: , 457th Bomb Group
Bomb Squadron: , 748th Bomb Squadron
MACR 10178
Fate: , Lost by flak/aa-fire
(25 October 1944)
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History of
B-17 42-97899

Delivered Tulsa 29/3/44; Kearney 27/5/44; Dow Fd 6/6/44; Assigned 748BS/457BG Glatton 7/6/44; Missing in Action Munster 28/10/44 with Pilot: J. Francis Angier, Co-pilot: Sam Cashman, Bombardier: Bob Maitland, Radio Operator: Bill Thomas, Ball turret gunner: Edwin Vantine,Tail gunner: Chas Osborne (6 Prisoner of War); Navigator: Sam Plestine, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Howard Lang,Tail gunner: Maynard Judson (3 Killed in Action); heavy flak damage, crashed near Hamburg; Missing Air Crew Report 10178.

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B-17 42-97899 Details

Flak at or southeast of enemy coast was meagre and fairly accurate. This flak apparently came from the Bremerhaven-Wesermünde area and hit only a few aircraft on the right of the group formation as the formation penetrated Germany.

Aircraft was hit apparently in right wing. It peeled off to right, as if leaving formation. Gasoline leak was observed. Aircraft started smoking, then flaming. Number 4 engine was feathered. Aircraft pulled up steeply, then went straight down. Right wing came off first; then left wing came off; then tail came off.

Aircraft was apparently under control two or three minutes after being hit.

Two chutes were reported to have come out soon after aircraft peeled off. Possibly two more were reported seen later.

Source: MACR 10178

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B-17 42-97899 Crew

Position Rank Name Status Note
P 1LT John F. Angier POW
CP 2LT Samuel E. Cashman POW
BOMB F/O Robert J. Maitland POW
ENG/TT T/SGT Howard H. Lang KIA chute failed to open
RO T/SGT William M. Thomas POW
BT S/SGT Edwin C. Vantine POW
WG S/SGT Charles D. Osborn POW
TG S/SGT Maynard E. Judson KIA

This page was last updated on 27 December 2021

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