Production-block:
B-17G-85-BO: 43-38274 to 43-38473
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 447th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 708th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 11240 / KSU/ME/KU: 3522 / 3521
History of
B-17 43-38473
Delivered Cheyenne 7/8/44; Lincoln 17/8/44; Grenier 2/9/44; Assigned 708BS/447BG Rattlesden 8/9/44; Missing in Action Kassel 30/12/44 with Bruce Bates, Herb Nachman, George Mixon, Bob Cordell, Jim Toler, Bill Lindsey, Bill Wheeler, Clair Palm, Ben Torre (9 Killed in Action); mid air coll, crashed Stürzenhardt (57km SE of Darmstadt; 57km SW of Würzburg), Germany. Missing Air Crew Report 11240.
Last updated: 22. August 2021
B-17 43-38473 Details
B-17 #43-38473 collided with B-17G “Fuddy Duddy” #42-97400 near target on 30 December 1944. Which was believed to be caused by “prop wash”.
Remarks or Eyewitness Statements:
Aircraft #42-97400 and 43-38473 collided at 1502 hours at 5055N-0910E at 26500 feet, in vicinity of I.P. #478 flying in No. 2 position of low section im lead squadron and #400 flying #4 of low section lead squadron. #473 lost altitude and #400 gained altitude at the same time. Reason for this is unknown, but believed prop wash responsible. #400 had fuselage cut into two and went into clouds in uncontrolled spin. Elevators of #473 were sheared off and it, two, disappeared into clouds out of control. No chutes observed from either plane.
Source: MACR 11240
B-17 43-38473 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Bruce E. Bates | KIA | - |
| CP | F/O | Herbert W. Nachman | KIA | - |
| NAV | F/O | George E. Mixon | KIA | - |
| BOMB | F/O | Robert G. H. Cordell | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | James L. Toler | KIA | - |
| RO | SGT | William M. Lindsey | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | Bill Wheeler | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Clair E. Palm | KIA | - |
| TG | SGT | Benjamin D. Torre | KIA | - |
04. February 2021 access_time 2:11
If anyone is interested, I have a group picture of this crew and several individual crew member pictures
05. February 2024 access_time 2:49
I am the nephew (and namesake) of George Edward Mixon, navigator of B17-G #43-38473 which collided with 42-97400 on December 30, 1944. The mission was to bomb railroad bridges and yards in connection with the Battle of the Bulge. My father was participating in the Battle of the Bulge, driving an ammunition truck, 10th Armored Division.