Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-50-DL: 44-6251 to 44-6500 |
| Delievered: | Kearney |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 483rd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 816th Bomb Squadron |
| MACR | 13059 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (16 March 1945) |
History of
B-17 44-6325 / The Old Shillalah
Delivered Kearney 4/7/44; Grenier 16/7/44; Assigned 816BS/483BG Sterparone 17/7/44; Missing in Action Vienna 16/3/45 with Homer Anderson, Hatcher, Axler, Alexander, Kramp, Leal, Owens, Bob Smith, Schraeder, Zachritz (10 evaded capture & ret. 30/3/45); flak, crashed Igal, Hungary; Missing Air Crew Report 13059.
B-17 44-6325 / The Old Shillalah Details
Statements to the loss of B-17 44-6325
The aircraft B-17G 44-6325 was last seen by me as bombs went away. His position in the formation was number three (3) position in the number two (2) box. He toggled his bombs on out ship. After the rally he radioed me and gave me the call sign for a Russian landing. His reason for leaving the formation was that he had lost two engines. Apparently the ship was under control.
1Lt. Frederick Landa
Pilot of aircraft 44-8122
The aircraft B-17G 44-6325 was observed to leave the formation at 1325 hours, 16 March 1945, at approximately 47°30“N and 16°20“ E. The #3 Engine was feathered and losing gasoline. He was losing altitude. His position in the formation was number three (3) position in number two (2) box.
The ship was apparently under control and no one bailed out. Pilot radioed that he was going to Russia. He was last seen about twenty (20) minutes out on his course and was escorted by two (2) P-38’s.
Victor Prescott
Pilot of aircraft 44-6432
Source: MACR 13059
B-17 44-6325 / The Old Shillalah Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Homer R. Anderson | EVD | - |
| CP | 2LT | Lewis T. Hatcher | EVD | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Meyer H. Axler | EVD | - |
| BOMB | F/O | Earl B. Alexander | EVD | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | George A. Kramp | EVD | - |
| RO | S/SGT | David Leal | EVD | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Lloyd C. Owens | EVD | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Kenneth H. Schrader | EVD | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Robert Smith | EVD | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Owen R. Zachritz | EVD | - |
This page was last updated on 07 May 2025
19. December 2020 access_time 13:36
Thanks for creating this website. My Father was tech sergeant Kramp on this B-17, I remember him telling me about there going down from Flak, two engines lost, landing gear wouldn’t deploy, belly landed in a farmers field just behind russian lines.
02. February 2021 access_time 23:18
Thank you for sharing this information. Very interesting!
22. November 2021 access_time 18:32
Yes, thanks for creating this website! My father – Charles R Clifton, was part of the crew that flew this plane from Kearney to Italy in 44. Can anyone tell me what the name of 44-6325 was?
03. September 2023 access_time 20:50
The name of 44-6325 was The old Shillalah as far as I know.
04. September 2023 access_time 9:29
Thank you, Heinz.
I have updated this B-17s information.
Cheers from Germany.