Production-block:
B-17G-50-DL: 44-6251 to 44-6500
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 463rd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 772nd Bomb Squadron
MACR: 14019
History of
B-17 44-6271 / Magnificaent Malfunction
Delivered Kearney 20/6/44; Grenier 30/6/44; Assigned 772BS/463BG Celone 3/7/44; Missing in Action Fortezza 20/4/45 with John Cunningham, Co-pilot: Rich Neff, Navigator: Art Hall, Bombardier: Jim Miller, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Alf Baldwin, Ball turret gunner: Conrad Bailey, Waist gunner: Jim Wolfgang, Waist gunner: Harry Simonds,Tail gunner: Hugh Litto, ?- Bob Ribbon (10POW/RTD?); Radio Operator: Shelby Brown (Killed in Action); flak, crashed Cassal Maggiore; Missing Air Crew Report 14019. MAGNIFICENT MALFUNCTION.
Last updated: 12. October 2020
B-17 44-6271 / Magnificaent Malfunction Details
Eyewitness Statements to the loss of B-17G #44-6271
I saw ship #44-6271 peel off and come down through the formation inbetween number one and number four ship. I was number four in position. The number one engine was smoking and I think that number three had been hit also. The it went our of my view back to the left of my ship.
2Lt. James R. Blackburn
Co-Pilot, Air Corps
Ship #44-6271, flying Easy Two, was hit by flak at about 1255 and peeled off to our left (Easy Four). It continued flying about a heading of 215°, at the same as our altitude, about 23000 feet. It was last seen at 1307 still flying level at our altitude. Five chutes were seen just south of Merano and West of Bolzano.
F/O. Alexander Suchodolski
Navigator
I was flying Easy Four, left waist. The first I saw of ship #44-6271, it came over the top of our ship going out to the left towards eight o’clock. I noticed two objects falling behind the ship but didn’t realize they were men until the navigator called out parachutes below. I counted four, then watched ship #44-6271 till it went out of sight at about the same altitude we were, but on a different heading.
S/Sgt. Joseph E. Burns
Gunner
Source: MACR 14019
B-17 44-6271 / Magnificaent Malfunction Crew
Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
P | 2LT | John J. Canningham | KIA | - |
CP | 2LT | Arthur M. Hall | POW | - |
NAV | 2LT | James A. Miller | POW | - |
BOMB | 2LT | Alfred J. Baldwin | POW | - |
ENG/TT | SGT | Conrad B. Bailey | POW | - |
RO | SGT | Shelby M. Brown | KIA | - |
BT | S/SGT | Hugh Litto | KIA | - |
WG | SGT | Harold E. Simonds | POW | - |
WG | S/SGT | James W. Wolfgang | POW | - |
TG | SGT | Robert G. Ribbon | POW | - |
20. March 2022 access_time 20:37
My Dad, Nolan Fritz, flew in the Magnificent Malfunction as a top gunner when Stanley Kavan was the pilot.