| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-100-BO: 43-38874 to 43-39073 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 34th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 18th Bomb Squadron, 7th Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 13598 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire, Mid-air collision (23 March 1945) |
History of
B-17 43-38971
Delivered Hunter 24/10/44; Dow Fd 9/11/44; Assigned 7BS/34BG Mendlesham 10/11/44; 18BS; Missing in Action Ahlhorn, Ger 23/3/45 with Myron Bolser, Co-pilot: Roger Maillard, Navigator: Homer Lancaster, tog-Jay Esholman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Tom Jerris, Radio Operator: John Heckman, Ball turret gunner: Don Stamos, Waist gunner: Russell Frost, Tail gunner: Albert Pegg (9 Killed in Action); crash landed continent; Salvaged 23/3/45; Missing Air Crew Report 13598.
B-17 43-38971 Details
Hit by flak and collided with B-17 #42-31582 / Ol’ Scrapiron of the 447th BG. Crashed Hamm, Germany.
From MACR 13617:
At 1347 hours, 27000 ft. altitude, the A/C flying No. 11 position of the 34th Group was hit by flak and peeled off to the left. After glancing off A/C of the 487th Group, No. 11 struck A/C #582 who went into a tight spin. The right wing folded and there was one explosion within the A/C in mid-air. #582 then hit the ground in a wooded area and exploded again. 2 chutes were observed. Coordinates were approximately 5040-0740. This report corroborated by 93rd Wing, 34th Bomb Group and 487th Bomb Group.
This page was last updated on 02 March 2018
06. January 2024 access_time 0:29
Jay Donald Eshleman ( a crew member on this plane) name is spelled incorrectly as Esholman. In respect for his memory, please correct this mistake. My father was his cousin.