Production-block:
B-17G-50-DL: 44-6251 to 44-6500
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 2nd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 49th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 13815
History of
B-17 44-6374 / Tuff Titty
Delivered Hunter 20/7/44; Dow Fd 3/8/44; Assigned 49BS/2BG Amendola 11/8/44; Missing in Action Vipiteno 20/4/45 with Tommy Baer, Co-pilot: Carl Smith[wia], Waist gunner: Bob Blazer[wia] (3 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Don Gawronski, Bombardier: Ivan Schraeder, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Pat Shaughnessy, Radio Operator: Hugh Stevenson, Ball turret gunner: Orval Burman, Waist gunner: John Dunston,Tail gunner: Joe Hart (7 Killed in Action); flak KO’d two engines, wing blown off, exploded and crashed near Riva; Missing Air Crew Report 13815. TUFF TITTY.
Last updated: 5. August 2017
27. July 2018 access_time 21:12
SSgt Ivan L Schraeder was my mom’s uncle. This was his 2nd time shot down. the first was in “Wee Bonnie”. Thank you for posting this info! I am doing my best to find and share everything I can about him with my family. If I can find his photos here I hope to post them to sights for others that may have interest in them too. I welcome any leads on info about him, his crew and plains. I have several tail numbers of them but few photos.
12. November 2019 access_time 18:51
My wife is CATHERINE BAER the pilots,Tommy Baer’s daughter.We have been researching all of this history and came upon your comments.If you have questions feel free to contact me.
01. July 2020 access_time 6:41
Hi Bill! After reading the accident reports about the Wee Bonnie and seen the hand written reports from the crew and seen a more personal side of everyone involved, I have spent lots of time thinking about where everyone was and out the those that lived, how did life turn out. More so about there memory of there time with Ivan. When Tuff Titty went down it was a great loss to the family. It must have been just as hard on the other familys for both aircraft. I would love to talk to you or the family about it all. So if you see this, please email me when you have time and maybe we can work out the time to do so. aprilseahorses2002@yahoo.com
12. December 2020 access_time 3:39
Hi Bill, My Dad was Leonard Topolski who was the regular Radio Operator for Tommy Baers’s crew. Flew 12 missions
with Tommy. I spent a lot of time researching a few years ago. Unfortunately we just moved and all of my stuff is still in a box somewhere downstairs. I have a picture of the crew in Italy and a copy of the accident report. Would be very appreciative if you and/or your could share any info you have. BTW: I just tried to access the 2nd Bomb Group website and it doesn’t seem to be there anymore?? Thanks, Chris Topolski
10. June 2021 access_time 23:51
Hi Bill, Hope all is well with you. I was also hoping you could share some information regarding Tommy and his experiences in Italy. And even before Italy. As I mentioned before my dad, Leonard Topolski, was the radio operator on most of Tommy’s missions in Italy. He passed away in 2004. He never talked about the War until about a year before he passed which is when I found out the story of that last mission on 4/20/44. He told me that he talked to Tommy afterwords and Tommy shared that he was blown clear and just ‘came to’ at about 10,000 feet and opened his chute. My dad flew 1 more mission after that one with another crew before the War ended in Europe. I did find and talk to a nephew of Pat Shaughnessy in CA a few years ago. I would like to start looking into the status and where-a-bouts of the entire crew. I was also told this was the last bomber in the 2nd Bomb Group to be lost by enemy action. Hope to hear from you. Thanks, Chris