Production-block:
B-17G-80-BO: 43-38074 to 43-38273
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 493rd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 861st Bomb Squadron
- RCL: Q4-K
MACR: 8865
History of
B-17 43-38225
Delivered Cheyenne 10/7/44; Kearney 19/7/44; Dow Fd 5/8/44; Assigned 861BS/493BG [Q4-K] Debach 7/8/44; Missing in Action Stuttgart 13/9/44 with Don Vandertill, Co-pilot: Abe Galfunt, Navigator: Fred Barish, Bombardier: Ed Colvin, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ben Dukowski, Radio Operator: Carl Fegely, Ball turret gunner: Lou Aiello, Waist gunner: Bob Pike,Tail gunner: Adolph Lamb (9 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Boerstadt, NE of Kaiserlautern, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 8865.
Last updated: 7. April 2024
B-17 43-38225 Details
Aircraft number 225 was hit by flak over Ludwigshafen area at 24,000 feet at 1040 hrs. Aircraft was flying no. 4 position in 493rd “A” Group. It lost altitude rapidly with no. 3 engine on fire. The fire was apparently put out and aircraft was last seen under control at approximately 10,000 feet at 1045 hrs., flying a course of 320°N. Three chutes were seen. One man bailed out immediately after aircraft was hit. Second man waited about two minutes. Third man bailed out shortly thereafter.
Source: MACR 8865
12. June 2023 access_time 1:31
Looking for any heirs of this group piloted by don vandertill
22. March 2024 access_time 9:50
I knew Jack Lamb as my Papa though very young when he passed. I unfortunately never got to know too much about him, can I ask your relationship?
22. March 2024 access_time 9:57
I knew Jack Lamb as my Papa, though very young when he passed. I never got to know too much about him. Can I ask your relationship?
06. June 2024 access_time 23:46
I am a grandson of Carl Fegely, the radio operator. Carl passed in 2012, rarely talked about his time in the service or as a POW, and never flew again after getting shot down. I have pieced together what I could of his account: “Carl was the last man to bail out. The plane was on fire. Just after exiting, it broke in half, just behind the wings. The back-half spiraled downward, forcefully ejecting the tail gunner. The front half of the plane exploded. Carl landed with facial burns and a back injury from being so close to the explosion. He was quickly captured by the Germans. Because he left his dog tags on his radio table, they suspected he was a spy. Being Pennsylvania German, he was able to speak with them and convince them otherwise. He was taken to Stalag Luft IV and spent almost a year as a POW”
19. August 2025 access_time 19:58
My dad, Harry Maynard, was a bombardier with the 493rd and completed his first 17 missions with his original B-24 crew, piloted by Jean Lobb. Ben Dubrowski was the engineer on that crew. When Lobb and his co-pilot were temporarily reassigned to fly fuel to Patton’s army in August 1944, the crew broke up and all but the pilot/co-pilot were reassigned to other crews. Ben Dukowski was sent to Vandertill’s crew and was one of the three who survived the Sept. 13 flak damage. He was taken POW and released in May, 1945 after VE Day. His capture and release were reported in his hometown newspaper in Cleveland OH.