B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 44-6271 / Magnificaent Malfunction

B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies 44-6271 / Magnificaent Malfunction

Manufacturer:
Douglas

MACR: 14019

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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

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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

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B-17 44-6271 / Magnificaent Malfunction Crew

Position Rank Name Status Note
P 2LT John J. Canningham KIA
CP 2LT Arthur M. Hall 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

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