| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-95-BO: 43-38674 to 43-38873 |
| Delievered: | Hunter |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 388th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 563rd Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 13723 |
| Fate: |
, Rammed by E/A (07 April 1945) |
History of
B-17 43-38869 / Paula Sue
Delivered Hunter 30/9/44; Dow Fd 11/10/44; Assigned 563BS/388BG Knettishall 17/10/44; Missing in Action Parchim, Ger 7/4/45 with Bob Bares, Jim Westbrook, Bob Sonnenberg, George Shantz, Sam Hinstead, Vernon Hofmann, Andy Strable, Dave Becker, Jesse Rorie, Bob Pedersen {rcm} (10 Killed in Action); rammed by enemy aircraft & hit by debris from aircraft above; crashed Steinhuden Meeres, Ger. PAULA SUE.
B-17 43-38869 / Paula Sue Details
Aircraft 869 flying on the right wing of the leader of the high element of 388 “B” Squadron was rammed by an ME-109 coming in from nine o’clock. The enemy aircraft struck the B-17 between the waist wing and the tail. the B-17 immediately broke in half with the forward section of the aircraft disintegrated. No chutes were seen. Observers state that the enemy aircraft was not firing as it came in and believed that the pilot was dead.
Source: MACR 13723
B-17 43-38869 / Paula Sue Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Robert Franklin Bare | KIA | - |
| CP | F/O | James Duncan Westbrook | KIA | - |
| NAV | F/O | Robert Luther Sonnenberg | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Samuel Poe Umstead | KIA | - |
| RO | SGT | Vernon F. Hofmann | KIA | - |
| BT | SGT | Andrew Robert Strable | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | David Stanley Becker | KIA | - |
| TG | SGT | Jesse Bob Rorie Jr. | KIA | - |
| TOG | SGT | George (NMI) Shantz Jr. | KIA | - |
| RCM | S/SGT | Robert C. Pederson | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 27 September 2025
12. August 2021 access_time 5:41
My uncle, my mother’s brother and my cousins father-Robert F Bare was the pilot of this B-17, it was I think their
Second mission.I would be grateful for any additional information.thanks in advance
01. May 2023 access_time 18:51
A relative of mine was on the Paula Sue when she went down. The aircraft was destroyed by a member of the Sonderkommando Elbe, although the original belief was that they were killed by a downed pilot, the ramming was intentional. Their bodies and the crash site were not located until 1946. After they were MIA, some of the mothers/wives wrote to each other during the year wait to find what happened, I’ve transcribed some of these letters that I have and would be happy to send you the one I have from Mrs. Bare (Robert Bare’s mother) if you post how I can reach you in reply to this message, I’ll try to send what I have.
08. May 2024 access_time 22:47
Sorry to take so long, didn’t know there was a reply
30. November 2025 access_time 0:01
Hello, i live in a village next to the grinderwald where the b 17 went down. Could you say ne the Koordinaten, where the Crash was. Then i can send you a picter where the plane went down.
02. May 2023 access_time 21:58
Here is some info I’ve gathered on Paula Sue and her downing, from public sources and from letters I have.
She and her crew were on a mission to bomb Kalteukirghen airfield, they were flying in the lead squadron on their second mission together (according to a letter from the parents). When passing in proximity to Linsburg, a ME-109 rammed the aircraft between the waist gun position and empennage. The forward section of the aircraft went into a flat spin and disintegrated on the way down, the tail ‘floated’ down according to the air crew report. No parachutes were seen, all airmen on board were MIA.
The aircraft was last seen in the vicinity of an area northwest of Hannover. The parents were notified on Apr28th, 1945 that they were MIA. It was initially believed that the ramming was ‘accidental’ and the pilot of a ME-109 that rammed them was killed, however it was later found that the Sonderkommando Elbe were responsible. They were specifically trained and formed to ram bombers and only flew on one day, Apr7 1945, the belief being that the German pilots would survive the encounter, which obviously wasn’t realistic.
I have no details on the wreckage, but I gather all but the empennage was disintegrated and scattered. The bodies of the crew were found in 3 different groups, the first group Sept/Oct 1945, the second early 1946 (Feb), and I have no details on the third group. My understanding is that the crew members in the aft portions of the aircraft were found first, then those along the impact site, followed by the crew in the front (pilot/copilot/etc). The letters I have stopped after early 1946, so I have no specifics on those in the forward part of the aircraft. Apparently locals had buried the crew, some were interred in Europe while others were returned to the US.
I have letters from a little over half the mothers of crew members, I have been successful over the years at locating some of the family members, but not others. I’ve transcribed and photographed the letters I have, any relatives or family members of the crew are welcome to reply to this post with an email address or other contact info, along with the name of the crew member, I will pass along whatever I have (if anything).
29. January 2025 access_time 16:34
I live close to the crash site and found some parts of the Aircraft today in the woods.
I could send you pictures or a video if you are interested.
22. August 2025 access_time 6:02
I am the grand son of Robert Bare. I am amazed by the information you have gathered and shared. Michael Novak is also a relative. I tell every one, they fought together, they died together and they are buried together. 3 of the 10 are in a grave in Maxwell Nebraska at Fort McPherson Cemetery. Robert Bare, Robert Sonnenberg and Andrew Strable. I have visited the cemetery and was moved by the experience. I have a photo of the crew and my mother has a signed version of same. I can send/post the photo and will get a scan of signed version also.
I would love to see the letters from my great grandmother and others concerning the well being of their sons.
I have a set of his wings, collar pins, goggles and the flag that was draped over his coffin upon return home. As have copy of flight map and formation they were in.
Thank you and hope to hear from you soon!
Jason
02. September 2025 access_time 20:54
Dear Sirs:
I am grandson of Robert Bare B-17 G 43-38869 (pilot). I am very interested if you have any letters from his mother or any other relevant information you have found. My mother, hid only daughter has a crew photo w/ all of their signatures.
Look forward to hearing from you.
thank you!
Jason
03. September 2025 access_time 2:18
Hi Jason. Please email me at bow.sineath@gmail.com. I believe I have one letter from Mrs Bare, possibly others, but I will need to check to be certain. I have transcribed those that I do have and taken photos of them, I will be happy to send them to you as I’ve sent a number of them to other relatives of the crew but was unsuccessful in locating any of Robert Bare’s relatives when I initially searched. If you email me, I will send you whatever info that I have.
13. March 2024 access_time 6:41
hi there i am the granddaughter of David (Dave) Stanley Becker, i would love to hear if you found any letters from his mother. thank you!
29. January 2025 access_time 16:31
Hi Madeline,
I live close to the crash site. I found it today, some parts of the aircraft are still left in the woods. Do you have a picture of the crew?
I can show you pictures or a video from the site.
29. January 2025 access_time 16:21
Hello all!
I live just 4 kilometers away from the crash Site. I found it today. There are some Parts of the Paula Sue left in the woods, too.
If anyone is interested in photos of the site you can contact me. I also do Videos on YouTube about the Paula Sue. Can someone maybe send me a picture of the crew? That would be awesome.
Greetings from Germany,
Stefan
02. February 2025 access_time 18:49
Hello Stefan, I saw the Video about the Paula Sue today. You’ve done a good work, again. I follow your Channel more than a year. I am a certified Metal dectorist for the Niedersächsische Denkmalamt. My area is south west of Hannover. I have one crashside of an Avro Lancaster in my area and I found a lot of parts of it.
Greetings Arne
22. August 2025 access_time 6:03
I am the grand son of Robert Bare. I am amazed by the information you have gathered and shared. Michael Novak is also a relative. I tell every one, they fought together, they died together and they are buried together. 3 of the 10 are in a grave in Maxwell Nebraska at Fort McPherson Cemetery. Robert Bare, Robert Sonnenberg and Andrew Strable. I have visited the cemetery and was moved by the experience. I have a photo of the crew and my mother has a signed version of same. I can send/post the photo and will get a scan of signed version also.
I would love to see the letters from my great grandmother and others concerning the well being of their sons.
I have a set of his wings, collar pins, goggles and the flag that was draped over his coffin upon return home. As have copy of flight map and formation they were in.
Thank you and hope to hear from you soon!
Jason
22. August 2025 access_time 6:04
I am the grand son of Robert Bare. I am interested in what you have found.
thank you
Jason
02. September 2025 access_time 20:39
Hi Jason!
Can you contact me? eyeblindedone@gmail.com
I live a few hundred meters from the crash site.
Regards,
Stefan
03. September 2025 access_time 22:28
Ich schaue gerade dein aktuelles Video dazu dachte ich such mal was dazu im Netz