B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 43-37913 / Seattle Sleeper

History of
B-17 43-37913 / Seattle Sleeper

Delivered Cheyenne 3/6/44; Hunter 13/6/44; Presque Is 28/6/44; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-T] Bassingbourn 29/6/44; Missing in Action 25m Altenbeken 26/11/44 with John Stevens; enemy aircraft, exploded & crashed Haulerwijk, Hol; (?6 evaded capture 3POW?); Missing Air Crew Report 10837. SEATTLE SLEEPER.

Last updated: 11. February 2024

B-17 43-37913 / Seattle Sleeper Details

Eyewitness Statement to the loss of B-17G #43-37913 / Seattle Sleeper

At about five minutes prior to the I.P., altitude approximately 21,000 feet, we were attacked by about 30 to 40 enemy fighters. At this time I observed aircraft B-17-G, 43-37913, to be hit by enemy fighter fire. A small fire developed in the right wing close to the fuselage. The aircraft then drifted away to the right of the formation. About one (1) minute later, when the aircraft was approximately a mile away, it exploded and disintegrated completely. Until the time that the aircraft exploded it was gradually losing altitude, but, had been under control at all times. Though I saw no men leave the ship or parachutes open I believe that there was sufficient time for the crew members to bail out.

S/Sgt. A. Jordan Jolly
91st Bomb Gp; 323rd Bomb Sq.

Source: MACR 10837

Remark to the statement above

Sgt. Jolly must have mistaken B-17 #43-37913 for another B-17. Because according to his statement, 43-37913 was hit near the target area and crashed after one minute. Which is not possible, because the B-17 crashed near Haulerwijk, Holland.

B-17 43-37913 / Seattle Sleeper Crew

Related web sites about the B-17 43-37913 / Seattle Sleeper

1. http://www.haulerwijk.com/~seattlesleeper/ThePlain.html