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Source:
www.351st.org
Production-block:
B-17G-40-VE: 42-97936 to 42-98035
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 351st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 508th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: YB-H
MACR: 9360
Missions: 25
History of
B-17 42-98004
Delivered Dallas 28/4/44; Hunter 9/6/44; Dow Fd 24/6/44; Assigned 508BS/351BG [YB-H] Polebrook 17/4/44; {25m} sustained battle damaged Cologne 27/9/44 with Capt Jerome Geiger, Co-pilot: Winfield Muffett, Navigator: Chas Hubbell, Bombardier: Frank Reising, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Leroy Chaplow{Wounded in Action}, Radio Operator: Walt Goodman{Wounded in Action}, Waist gunner: Jim Pierce,Tail gunner: Walt Ignison (8 Returned to Duty); Ball turret gunner: Ken Divil (Killed in Action); John Kurtz[511BS, a voice interceptor both blown out of ship (Prisoner of War). An 88m shell hit fuselage near radio room, blasting the ball turret and killing Sgt Divil; a German speaking radio operator Sgt Hurtz fell from aircraft and taken POW; Salvaged 2 SAD 27/9/44.
Last updated: 22. November 2020
B-17 42-98004 Details
Plane, though hit by flak in waist which caused death of Ball Turret Gunner and loss (MIA) of Y Operator, retured safely to England.
Statements to the incident
Eyewitness account from Jerome H. Geiger: “I, Jerome H. Geiger, O-731854, was flying as pilot of Aircraft No. 42-98004 which was flying in Lead Position of the Low Squadron on a mission to Cologne, Germany on 27 September 1944. About a second after bombs away 150 mm. Flak hit my plane, knocking out the Ball Turret, denting the tail and destroying the superchargers and radios. The Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly, his body literally “blown to bits”, and the Y-Operator fell out without his parachute. The rest of the crew and the plane returned to England without further incident.”
Capt. Jerome H. Geiger
1Lt. John C. Talbott, Navigator on A/C 42-97843, saw a man fall from Capt. Geiger’s plane with his hand on his chest as though he might have been preparing to pull a rip cord. This officer states, however, that he cannot be sure man was wearing a chute; what appeared to be a chut pack may have been part of flak suit. Observation was made from approximately 1500 yards.
B-17 42-98004 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | CPT | Jerome H. Geiger | RTD | - |
| CP | 1LT | Winfield F. Muffett | RTD | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Charles H. Hubbell | RTD | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Frank H. Reising | RTD | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Leroy H. Chaplow | RTD | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Walter F. Goodman | RTD | - |
| BT | SGT | Kenneth D. Divil | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | James M. Pierce | RTD | - |
| TG | SGT | Walter C. Ingison | RTD | - |
| --- | S/SGT | John J. Kurtz | POW | Y Operator |
25. June 2021 access_time 18:04
My grandfather is Walter F. Goodman. This account matches his description of events. He was knocked out during the explosion of the ball turret. The aircraft broke in two under its own weight on the following day while parked. Divil and my Grandfather were close friends. He had only met Kurtz that day.