zoom_in
Source:
fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17G-80-BO: 43-38074 to 43-38273
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 452nd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 730th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: 6K-E
History of
B-17 43-38179 / Chastain’s Kindergarten
Delivered Cheyenne 4/7/44; Kearney 13/7/44; Grenier 20/7/44; Assigned 730BS/452BG [6K-E] Deopham Green; battle damaged over Handorf Afd, Ger 21/3/45; with Luther Chastain, Co-pilot: Jim Cosman, Navigator: Frank carpenter, Bombardier: Jim Bangert, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lyle Cain, Radio Operator: Rueben Garrison, Ball turret gunner: Bob Watkins, Waist gunner: Luther Cox,Tail gunner: Jim Wilson; limped home and crash landed but all crew OK; later Sal; CHASTAIN’S KINDERGARTEN.
Last updated: 7. October 2019
B-17 43-38179 / Chastain’s Kindergarten Details
My opinion why this photo show’s #43-38179 / Chastain’s Kindergarten is, that on this day, only one B-17 made a crash landing. Even the additional armour plate on cockpit windows, suggests this the right production-block.
Original description of the photo:
ENGLAND, March 21, 1945 – Fire fighters working to extinguish fire fast consuming the left wing of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Only one member of the plane’s crew was slightly injured.
19. February 2020 access_time 23:54
#1 and #2 engines were on fire. After extinguishing the fire, they returned to base, with my uncle Luther and the co-pilot. taking turns holding the rudder down to counter-act force of engines 3 and 4 pushing the plane into a turn. Upon landing, they decided to start #1 so they could taxi. Fire broke out from gas collecting in the fuselage. The fire weakened the fuselage and it broke in half. The injury was to the tail gunner who jumped out of the plane as it landed. The jumping out caused him to earn a court-martial. I am sure this is more than you needed to know, but am very proud of me uncle and it gives me something to write about. You ought to hear about the time they were attacked by an ME-262, A 30 MM shell made a direct hit on one of the engines, but failed to explode. Just one of thousands of stories all of these men had to tell.
20. February 2020 access_time 8:42
Hello Allen,
thank you for sharing your uncle’s story. I very like to read the detailed stories behind the photos. Their stories are part of history.
Best wishes
Jing
16. May 2020 access_time 13:14
I would really like to read the stories!
30. April 2021 access_time 21:38
Hello,
My father was Lyle Cain. I really appreciate this site, it has info. that I did not have. He did
not talk much about the war. I do have many of the letters that he sent home to his parents
and sisters. Many of the letters describe training and missions. The mission letters are vague
so that they would pass the censors. I have been to Ajo Arizona and the airfield where some of the crew training occurred. I have also seen the white cliffs of Dover and have been in what
had been a secret hospital under the Dover castle. My father commented that if they saw the white cliffs of Dover and had enough altitude to clear them they were likely to survive the mission. If other people have additional info. on Chastains Kindergarten I would love to talk with you.
09. December 2021 access_time 12:56
Co-pilot Jim Cosman was a buddy of mine, he told me the same stories about the crash landing, and the 262 encounter.. I’m was a great guy, and I miss him.
09. December 2021 access_time 12:58
Sorry, didn’t proof read that, it should have read Jim was a great guy..
01. February 2023 access_time 23:47
Jim is my Grandfather. One of the greatest men I’ve ever known. His stories about this were amazing.
19. February 2024 access_time 2:01
Hi Matt! I knew you when you were a kid…I was best man at your uncle Richards wedding…did your grandfather tell you that he JUMPED from that little window to his right side all the way to the wing, to escape the fire? …he said he was scarred to death!…He said that had he had his harness/seatbelt on, he would have never made it out, that’s why he never wore a seatbelt again.
19. February 2024 access_time 20:19
Oh yes, he told me all about it. I was just a kid when My uncle Richard got married. I was the troublemaker at the wedding, Im sure.
19. February 2024 access_time 2:03
LOL…when will I learn to proof read..SCARED, not scarred..