B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 43-38046

History of
B-17 43-38046

Delivered Cheyenne 20/6/44; Hunter 3/7/44; Grenier 24/7/44; Assigned 849BS/490BG Eye 26/7/44; Missing in Action Ruhland 17/3/45 with Arthur Stern, Clifton Nippert, Ed Dewahl, Willard Fay, Jim Rivers, George Devlin, John Terry, Jim Heathman, Ed Holdren (9 Killed in Action); mid-air coll, crashed Kamberg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 13080.

Last updated: 10. September 2022

B-17 43-38046 Details

Mid-air-collision with B-17 #43-38071 on 17 March 1945.

The Following is an Eyewitness account by S/Sgt. Frank J. Balley

The accident occored a few minutes before we reached the front lines. I was in the tail of the ship flying the third position in the number three element in the low squadron. I heared an explosion about our engines and felt out ship lurch. Looking up I saw pieces of flaming wreckage falling directly behind us. The airplane had already broken up. I was unable to follow it down because of contrails and haze and so I don’t know if anyone was able to bail out. A few seconds later I saw another airplane losing altitude fast and falling behind our formation. The nose of this aircraft was missing from the cockpit forward. The pilot seemed to be trying to feather his number three engine as it was windmilling. The last I saw of this plane was headed for the lines, losing altitude. Both airplanes had markings of this group on the wings and tail.

Frank J. Bailey

Sgt. George V. Devlin reported KIA because of information received in TWX (R-106-C) dated 19 March 1945 from 48th Fighter Group. As a result of collision Sgt. Devlin was found lodged in nose of aircraft piloted by Lt. Tennenberg (43-38071) who landed at Base A-92 on 17 March 1945. Lt. Tennenberg and crew are safe.

B-17 43-38046 Crew