B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 43-38854 / Tennessee Toddy

History of
B-17 43-38854 / Tennessee Toddy

Delivered Lincoln 29/9/44; Grenier 12/10/44; Assigned 751BS/457BG [A] Glatton 19/10/44; Missing in Action Achmer 24/3/44 with Sherrill Williams, Co-pilot: Earl Downey, Navigator: Ben Bushey, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ralph Smith, Radio Operator: Gene Bussard, Tony Demaro (5 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Tony Demaro, Ball turret gunner: Burnell Scheivert, Waist gunner: Harry Rahbe,Tail gunner: Burnard Klimoski (4 Prisoner of War); flak tore off both wings, crashed Greven, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 13616. TENNESSEE TODDY.

Last updated: 17. August 2017

B-17 43-38854 / Tennessee Toddy Details

B-17 #43-38854, named “Tennessee Toddy,” and flown by Lt Sherill R. Williams, was hit by flak while on the bomb run to the airfield at Hopsten, Germany. An anti-aircraft shell exploded about 9 feet from the end of his wing and that portion of the wing broke off. The plane left the formation, dove, turned over on it’s back, and spun down till the fuselage broke in half in the vicinity of the radio room. Six members of the crew were killed and three survived as POW’s

B-17 43-38854 / Tennessee Toddy Crew

Related web sites about the B-17 43-38854 / Tennessee Toddy

1. http://www.457thbombgroup.org/fate/williams.html
2. https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-margraten-w/44740-williams-sherrill-r