| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-80-BO: 43-38074 to 43-38273 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 493rd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 860th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | NG-J |
| MACR | 9429 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by friendly-fire (30 September 1944) |
History of
B-17 43-38115 / Reluctant Lassie
Delivered Cheyenne 28/6/44; Lincoln 14/7/44; Grenier 11/8/44; Assigned 860BS/493BG [NG-J] Debach 13/8/44; Missing in Action Bielefeld, Ger 30/9/44 with Dan Treece, Co-pilot: Jim Welsh, Bombardier: Stanton Gage, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ernie Barton, Radio Operator: Theo Tourtellott, Ball turret gunner: Carroll Moss, Waist gunner: Enrico Spatarella,Tail gunner: Carrel Stamps (8 Killed in Action); Navigator: Artemon Johnson (Prisoner of War); hit by bomb from aircraft above, crashed Wellenkotten, near Bielefeld, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 9429. RELUCTANT LASSIE.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 43-38115 / Reluctant Lassie Details
Hit by bombs of higher flying B-17. The debris of B-17 #43-38115 Reluctant Lassie hits B-17 #43-38480, which also went down.
Statement from MACR 9429
According to crew flying in 493 “A” Group, A/C 115 was hit by one or more 500lb G.G. bombs, (1/10 tail – 1/40 nose fusing), dropped from an a/c flying in the high element of the 493rd “A” lead group. A/C 115 exploded almost immediately and dove straight down in a mass of flames, breaking up completely. The majority of the crews report seeing one chute. One crew thought they saw the bodies of at least three men leave the A/C, but it was impossible to determine if their chutes were ultimately opened.
The blast and debris from A/C 115 cau the probable destruction of A/C 480 flying in the No. 3 position in the high element.
B-17 43-38115 / Reluctant Lassie Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Daniel R. Treece | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | James G. Welsh | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Artemon P. Johnston | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Stanton Gage | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Ernest R. Barton | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Theodore F. Tourtellott | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | Carroll E. Moss | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Enrico J. Spatarella | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Carrel W. Stamps | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 21 February 2020
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