Production-block:
B-17G-75-BO: 43-37874 to 43-38073
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 490th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 849th Bomb Squadron
History of
B-17 43-37894 / Big Poison
Delivered Cheyenne 2/6/44; Kearney 13/6/44; Grenier 28/6/44; Assigned: 849BS/490BG Eye 1/7/44; on assembly for Chemnitz 6/2/45 Pilot: John Hedgecock, Co-Pilot: Eaden Whiteman, Navigator: John Roschen, Bombardier: Albt Elias, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Jake Zuckerman, Radio Operator: Art Fleischer, Waist Gunner: Pete Nicoliasen, Tail Gunner: Paul Estep (8RTD with minor injuries); Ball Turret Gunner: Ed Tijan (KIA); mid-air coll w/43-37806; crashed Prickwillow, Sfk, UK; crews bailed, two civilians also killed and three injured. (‘landing accident at base w/Jim Owens 15/5/45’) Salvaged. BIG POISON.
Last updated: 5. January 2019
B-17 43-37894 / Big Poison Details
Mid-air-collision with B-17 #43-37806 Miss Fortune on 06 February 1945.
06. May 2024 access_time 15:40
My uncle was Ed Tijan who was killed in action on this mission. My father, Emil Tijan, is Ed’s younger brother and is still living. Please contact me if you are a relative of any other of the men on either of these B-17’s that collided. 43-37894 or 43-37806.
06. January 2025 access_time 21:49
Dear Mr Tijan,
I live in the village of Prickwillow, Cambridgeshire, England.
As you know, your uncle’s aircraft crashed onto our village following the mid air collision on 6th February 1945.
Two young children were killed .
Our village war memorial honours the men from Prickwillow who died in both world wars but does not mention the two girls.
80 years on from the tragedy that claimed their lives we are rectifying the omission by adding a plaque to the existing war memorial.
It includes the names of the two girls, but we thought it important to also include the name of Sgt Edward T Tijan. At 19 he was not much older than Josephine Legge, aged 19 months and Pamela Turner, aged 10.
The plaque is to be unveiled on Saturday 8th February 2025.
07. January 2025 access_time 23:57
Hi Chris, Thank you very much for the email. Our family would be very grateful for my Uncle’s name to be added to the plaque. We did see the article on the internet of your Harvest Supper celebrated last Oct 30, 2024. There is a picture of the plaque on the site, however, if you can send another and let us know the final location of the plaque we would appreciate that. Is there another way to contact you or the Prickwillow Village Hall? Thanks, Matt