B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 43-37819 / B.T.O aka Mr Five X

History of
B-17 43-37819 / B.T.O aka Mr Five X

Delivered Cheyenne 26/5/44; Kearney 4/6/44; Grenier 17/6/44; Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG- ] Bassingbourn 19/7/44; Missing in Action Leipzig 20/7/44 with Chas Walby, Radio Operator: Ernie Keene (2 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Max Bender{Wounded in Action}, Navigator: Jim Dye, Bombardier: Jim Mounts, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Norman Ingram, Ball turret gunner: Byron Burgin{Wounded in Action}, Waist gunner: Karl Dziadula,Tail gunner: Fred Cascone{Wounded in Action} (7 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Vielau, SE of Zwickau, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 7284. B.T.O. aka MR FIVE X FIVE.

Last updated: 21. February 2020

B-17 43-37819 / B.T.O aka Mr Five X Details

Eyewitness Statement from MACR 7284

Aircraft B-17G 43-37819 was last seen just prior to the I.P. during an attack by about 12 or 15 FW 190, enemy aircraft. Subject aircraft appeared to have been hit by a 20 MM shell in the right wing root. It appeared that the burst was inside one of the wing tanks. Fire immediately broke out in the wing, and the aircraft pulled off to the right of the formation under control. I was in the top-turret and lost sight of the aircraft at this point.

S/Sgt. William H. Sammons
322nd Bomb Sq., 91st Bomg GP (H)

B-17 43-37819 / B.T.O aka Mr Five X Crew