| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-70-BO: 43-37674 to 43-37873 |
| Delievered: | Cheyenne |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 306th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 369th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | WW-L |
| MACR | 7900 |
| KSU/ME/KU: | KU-2749 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (16 August 1944) |
History of
B-17 43-37693
Delivered Cheyenne 12/5/44; Kearney 24/5/44; Dow Fd 1/6/44; Assigned: 369BS/306BG [WW-L] Thurleigh 13/6/44; MIA Delitzsch 16/8/44 Pilot: Eldon Ralstin, Radio Operator: Bob Behnke (2KIA); Co-Pilot: Bill Goetz, Navigator: Dick Locke, Bombardier: Tom Meersman, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Bill Howard, Ball Turret Gunner: Sam Simonian, Waist Gunner: Gerald Wrightsman, Tail Gunner: Fred Lloyd (7POW); flak ko’d two engines, crashed Obermolbitz, Ger; MACR 7900.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 43-37693 Details
Aircraft No. 693, Pilot Ralstin, was hit by flak over target area, had one engine feathered and one engine on fire. Aircraft was under control when last seen. Crews report seeing four to six chutes coming from plane.
Source: MACR 7900
B-17 43-37693 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Eldon L. Ralstin | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | William H. Goetz | POW | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Richard T. Locke | POW | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | Thomas J. Meersman | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | William M. Howard | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Robert F. Behnke | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Samuel Simonian | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Gerald W. Wrightsman | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Fred Lloyd | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 01 March 2026
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