B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 43-38115 / Reluctant Lassie

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.

Last updated: 21. February 2020

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

Related web sites about the B-17 43-38115 / Reluctant Lassie

1. http://www.spurensuche-owl.de/front_content.php?idart=118
2. https://www.airwarhistory.com/gadderbaum/