| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-70-BO: 43-37674 to 43-37873 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 351st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 509th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | RQ-V |
| MACR | 12728 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire, interned (25 February 1945) |
| Missions: | 53 |
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History of
B-17 43-37854 / Touchy Tess
Delivered Cheyenne 29/5/44; Kearney 8/6/44; Grenier 28/6/44; Assigned 509BS/351BG [RQ-V] Polebrook 17/7/44; Missing in Action {53m} Dresden 25/2/45 with Chas Alplanalp (Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Harry Gividen, Navigator: George Brown, Bombardier: Ernie Ogden, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clinton Norby, Radio Operator: Paul Livingston, Ball turret gunner: John Genetti, Waist gunner: Herb Berlin,Tail gunner: Gene Bullock (8INT); flak, crash landed Ermensee, Switz; Missing Air Crew Report 12728. TOUCHY TESS.
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This page was last updated on 27 March 2019
26. April 2018 access_time 19:33
My Step-Father was 2nd Lt George F. Brown, Navigator on 43-37854 when it was shot down. He was wounded in the head and required surgery in Switzerland, where they crashed. The pilot was killed by a tree branch penetrating a window, and I believe I rememeber him saying the tail gunner was either wounded or killed. The name of the aircraft at the time of the crash was actually “Troubled Tess”, which was the name of a Rosemary Clooney song popular at the time. A prior crew had given the aircraft the name, as it did not have name when assigned to them. My step father’s crew was on their 2nd mission when shot down, and I believe I remember him saying they had not even been in England for a week.
26. April 2018 access_time 19:45
Thank you for the story!
14. May 2018 access_time 17:00
OK – went back and found the book that referred to 43-37854. The book was “The Bomber boys”, by Travis L. Ayres. The crew member was George Ahern, who was the ball turrent gunner. That crew had been looking for a name, but couldn’t agree on one.
Ahern had gone to London, and saw a show by Dinah Shore (not Rosy Clooney), where she sang the song, “Tess’s Torch song”. He went back to Polebrook and suggested “Torchy Tess”, which became the name.
Sorry I got my facts mixed up and I thank Mr. Ayers for his excellent book.
12. January 2023 access_time 20:31
My grandfather, Harold Gividen, was the co-pilot on that plane. I have the full written story of the crash from him, as well as another from the engineer, Clinton Norby. My grandfather named his first son Charles, after the pilot, who was the only one killed in the crash.
02. February 2024 access_time 19:29
My uncle was Ernie Ogden who was a bombardier on that flight. I had heard that several of them were hurt and were taken to a Swiss hospital until after the war. I am glad I found this site as I have been looking for more information on the mission. Thank you