B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 43-38545

History of
B-17 43-38545

Delivered Cheyenne 16/8/44; Topeka 25/8/44; Grenier 17/9/44; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-J] Bassingbourn 4/11/44; 324BS; battle damaged Merseburg 21/11/44 with Harry DeBolt, Osborne Stone, Bill Dominguez, Dick Cusson, Troy Young, John Alba, Granville Houchins, Chas Walker, Nelson Richardson (9 Returned to Duty); crash landed Belgium; Salvaged 28/11/44.

Last updated: 27. September 2019

B-17 43-38545 Details

B-17 #43-38545 were damaged on mission to Merseburg, Germany on 21 November 1944. The crew bailed out but #43-38545 still flying, but losing altitude and made a perfect three point landing in a field near Liege, Belgium. An British Officer inspect the B-17 but could not found anyone from the crew.

Because of this incident, B-17 #43-38545 were known as “Ghost Ship” or “Ghost Fortress”.

Related web sites about the B-17 43-38545

1. https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/what-phantom-ghost-fortress-b-17-that-landed-at-an-airfield-no-crew-were-on-board.html
2. http://www.91stbombgroup.com/91st_tales/58_the_ghost_ship.pdf
3. https://calebandlindapirtle.com/89721-2/