B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 44-6168

History of
B-17 44-6168

Delivered Tulsa 20/5/44; Kearney 30/5/44; Hunter 7/6/44; Morrison 19/6/44; Assigned 352BS/301BG Lucera 30/6/44; Missing in Action Wiener Neudorf 26/7/44 with Ralph Delenney, Kerr, Massey, Kuhn, Chesney, Salasek, Anderson, Fulton (8 Killed in Action); Demos, Stark (2 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Mariazell; Missing Air Crew Report 7142.

Last updated: 17. February 2020

B-17 44-6168 Details

Witness Statement from MACR 7142

I was flying as Tail Gunner on Airplane #44-6189. We were flying along in a good formation when Fighters came into sight at about 7 o’clock. They went around to six o’clock, some going above us, a few staying level, and the rest going under us. The Fighters started firing at us when they were about 1500 yd out. Airplane #44-6168 was behind us very close. At this time, we were hit by an incendiary, and the oxygen caught on fire, I was very busy putting the fire out and when I looked back again, 168 was no longer in the sky. I believe the Fighters knocked him down. It is hard to determine as to the chances of survival of the crew members. The plane was last seen at 47°34’N 15°43’E

S/Sgt. Eugene G. McKimmy

B-17 44-6168 Crew