| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-40-VE: 42-97936 to 42-98035 |
| Delievered: | Dallas |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 91st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 324th Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 7273 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | KU-867A |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (20 July 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-97999
Delivered Dallas 27/4/44; Kearney 6/6/44; Dow Fd 27/6/44; Assigned 324BS/91BG [DF- ] Bassingbourn 10/7/44; Missing in Action Leipzig 20/7/44 with Capt Francis Holmes, Co-pilot: John Neal, Navigator: Walter Kast, Bombardier: Fred Dignon, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Seaton, Radio Operator: Drexel Lange, bto-Otto Draege, Waist gunner: Allen Meeker,Tail gunner: Don Potter (9 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Manderscheid, N of Eifel, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 7273.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-97999 Details
Statement of Eyewitness
Aircraft B-17-G, 42-97999 was hit by flak in the right wing near Eisenach, Germany. The pilot pulled the aircraft up along side of ours and no fire was visible. The aircraft followed with the formation to a position of approximately 50°12’N – 07°18’E. where five (5) parachutes were seen to leave the aircraft. Subject aircraft was last seen heading in a westerly direction.
1Lt. Robert W. Paulissen
324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group
Source: MACR 7273
B-17 42-97999 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | CPT | Francis S. Holmes, Jr. | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | John W. Neal, Jr. | POW | - |
| NAV | F/O | Walter L. Kast | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Frederick L. Dignon | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Charles A. Searon, Jr. | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Drexel D. Lange | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Otto F. Draege | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Allen W. Meeker | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Donald C. Potter | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 15 March 2026
07. June 2023 access_time 6:21
I am the great nephew of Otto Draege. I would like to know the name given to the plane that he and his crew was downed over Germany in.
13. June 2023 access_time 14:00
Hello David, as of today no name is known to this B-17.
13. June 2023 access_time 18:57
Hello, I am looking for information on my late grandfather, Richard A. Eidemiller. I have a copy of his instrument pilot certificate which says he was a member of the 324th BTG but have no other info. I reached out to the National Archives and they said his records were destroyed in a fire years ago. Any help you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
03. June 2024 access_time 23:45
Still searching if anyone might have come across his name. Thank you.