B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-97956 / Pard

Delivered Denver 13/4/44; Cheyenne 1/5/44; Hunter 14/5/44; Dow Fd 24/5/44; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-L] Bassingbourn 3/6/44; Missing in Action 38m Merseburg 2/11/44 with Pilot: Hanford Rustand, Bombardier: Roger Keys, Radio Operator: John Griffith, Ball Turret Gunner: John Gercovich, Waist Gunner: John Murphy, Tail Gunner: George Roach (6 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Wyndham Peck, Navigator: Henry Schwarz, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Gil Crotte (3 Prisoner of War); shot down by enemy aircraft while trying to protect damaged colleague HI-HO SILVER; crashed Libehna, Germany; Missing Air Crew Report 10148. “PARD.”