Production-block:
B-17G-40-VE: 42-97936 to 42-98035
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 401st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 612th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: SC-G
MACR: 8607
Missions: 27
History of
B-17 42-97962 / Casey’s Strawberry Blonde
Delivered Denver 16/4/44; Cheyenne 1/5/44; Kearney 12/5/44; Grenier 27/5/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-G] Deenethorpe 5/6/44; Missing in Action Mannheim 9/9/44 with Dave Loughlin, Co-pilot: Chas Meredith, Bombardier: Edwin Sedlak, Radio Operator: Jim Sommers, Ball turret gunner: John Punte, Waist gunner: Arlo Dralle,Tail gunner: Albt Bailey (7 Killed in Action); Navigator: Roger Bernard, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Oliver Livingston (2 Prisoner of War); flak KO’d #3 and #4, on way down aircraft blew up, crashed Trosel, NE of Mannheim; Missing Air Crew Report 8607. CASEY’S STRAWBERRY BLONDE.
Last updated: 29. March 2020
B-17 42-97962 / Casey’s Strawberry Blonde Details
Back row (L-R):
Edwin F. Sedlak; James Charles F. Meredith; Roger L. Bernard; David Loughlin
Front row (L-R):
Oliver E. Livingston; David C. Messex; John Bernard Punte; Albert M. Bailey; James L. Sommers; Arlo W. Dralle
Photo taken on 2 September 1944. One week before most of them failed to return.
B-17 42-97962 / Casey’s Strawberry Blonde Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | David Loughlin | KIA | - |
| CP | 1LT | Charles F. Meredith | KIA | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Roger L. Bernard | POW | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | Edwin F. Sedlak | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Oliver E. Livingston | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | James L. Sommers | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | John A. Punte | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Arlo W. Dralle | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Albert M. Bailey | KIA | - |
29. March 2020 access_time 19:26
The above picture show’s a David Messex, but he is not listed as a crew member. What was his job???
Leo Meredith
29. March 2020 access_time 19:58
Hello Leo,
David Messex was ball turret gunner and was not on board of 42-97962 on the final flight.
01. April 2020 access_time 19:21
Can you furnish me a copy Missing Crew Report 8607??
Thanks,
Leo Meredith
01. April 2020 access_time 21:32
Hello Leo,
unfortunately I don’t have a copy of MACR 8607. It also not exist in the online National Archives.
I try to find a copy.
Cheers
Jing
31. March 2020 access_time 6:21
I have a letter written by Oliver Livingston stating that Sommers, Punte, Dralle, Bailey, Loughlin, Meredith and Sedlak were buried in a local civilian cemetery near the crash site. I also have a copy of the 48th QM Graves Registration Co report dated 6-19-1945 stating Sommers, Punte, Bailey, Sedlak, Loughlin and Meredith were disinterred and reburied in a Military Cemetery in Bensheim Germany. There was no mention of Dralle. Do you have any idea why he is not mentioned in the disinterment report? They all ended up in Lorrain with the 6 side by side and Dralle in a different plot and row. Where was Dralle originally buried and is there any disinterment reports?? Leo Meredith
31. March 2020 access_time 10:12
Hello Leo,
I could not find out any information to answer your question.
My theory is, that Dralle were reburied later.
I recommend you to contact the autor of this web site:
http://www.morr-siedelsbrunn.de/%C3%BCberwald/flugzeugabst%C3%BCrze-2-weltkrieg/7-b17-l%C3%B6hrbach/
Contact form is here:
http://www.morr-siedelsbrunn.de/kontakt/
Hope he can help you.
Kind regards
Jing
02. May 2020 access_time 22:48
As it relates to my question about why Arlo Dralle’s was not included on the disinterment report from the German civilian cemetery.
Our recent research indicates he was buried 9-13-1944 in Chief Cemetery Mannhein Kriegerfield/Erweiterung Backfield I Grave No 44.
This brings up the question that will never get answered – ” How was he separated from the other crew members and buried 20-30 mile away from the other 6 crew members”
Source of findings”Arolsen Archives” Leo Meredith
03. April 2020 access_time 12:23
Hello Leo,
I sent you an email.
Please check.
16. September 2020 access_time 22:12
Dear All,
I am sending you many and warm greetings from Germany where the B17 bomber “Caseys Strawberry Blonde” crashed at that time.
It is really sad.
Mr. Sedlak was found near the mountain “Teufelstein”. Mr. Livingston and Mr. Bernard survided as you know.
The other crew members were also found. Three of them were found in the front part (called Heck) of the bomber wreck whereas the other three of the crew were found in the front part (called Bug) of the B17 bomber wreck.
My mother told me that all of them were buried initially on the cemetery “Abtsteinach”, which is close to Löhrbach were the bomber crashed.
Later, after the war the soldiers were transferred to France.
My son and myself go very often to the area where the bomber crashed.
This is really sad. I can offer you some images (actual photos) showing the bomb raid coming from the west direction to the primary target BASF (not performed due to the bad weather at that time) and the secondary target “railway yard Rheinau” where the bomber was hit by the FLAK and the last flight minutes to Trösel / Löhrbach where the bomber exploded / crashed.
In this area parts of the bomber are still found.
Please let me know if I can support you in this case and provide you some images
Please keep this in mind, it is really a nice place where the bomber crashed!! We think very often to the people killed during that mission. When we are in this area we always feel the special atmosphere (thinking in a positive way).
Hopefully it helps you…..
With warm wishes from Germany, Markus
26. September 2020 access_time 9:57
Hello Markus,
thank you for sharing these information!
Cheers from Germany
Jing
08. November 2020 access_time 18:55
Hi Markus,
This is Leo Meredith. My Uncle Charles F. Meredith was the co-pilot of Casey’s Strawberry Blond on the day of the fatal mission. He did not survive. I have been preparing a memorial of his “Life and Death” and will be donating it to the Hudson Museum in Hudson Michigan, his hometown, when completed. I have collected copies of military records showing the 4 places his remains were buried, news paper articles, a hand written O. Livingston letter dated 1945 detailing the events of the day and days following plus I have Charles’s actual footlocker.
I would appreciate obtaining copies of any information and pictures you have on the flight, crash or crash site. I would gladly share some of my findings with you, but I can not attach them in this reply. I am including my e mail address so you can send any thing you have directly to me.
Thanks,
Leo Meredith
letomer@ameritech.net