B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 44-6428

History of
B-17 44-6428

Delivered Lincoln 31/7/44; Dow Fd 17/8/44; Assigned 20BS/2BG Amendola 28/8/44; Missing in Action Szony oil refinery 14/3/45 with Fred Reed, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Laverne Chambers,Tail gunner: Henry Bullis (3 Returned to Duty); Co-pilot: Bentley Moberg, Navigator: Aubry D. Poindexter, Radio Operator: Ed Wagner, Ball turret gunner: Floyd Lechner (4 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Harry Hollinger, Waist gunner: Jim Hamilton, Waist gunner: Max Wilder (3 Prisoner of War); flak hit #2, aircraft on fire; four chutes seen with one ablaze; aircraft exploded, crashed Tata, Hungary; Missing Air Crew Report 12823.

Last updated: 8. April 2021

B-17 44-6428 Details

Eyewitness Statements to the loss of B-17G 44-6428

Statement of S/Sgt. Alfred Nowak, lower turret gunner on B-17 No. 671, flying in formation of the first wave, third squadron, second element, number one position.

I saw B-17 No. 428 last at 1426 hours from 23000 feet at 4738N/1811E where he received a direct flak hit in the number two engine; he then pulled out to the right, left the formation in flames. The A/C was then going down; an at this time, I observed two (2) chutes; after he had lost a little more altitude, I observed two (2) more chutes, one (1) of which was on fire. The A/C then exploded and I observed pieces of the A/C felling earthward.

S/Sgt. Alfred Nowak

Statement of S/Sgt. Maurice Tilby, tail gunner on B-17 No. 671, flying in formation of the second wave, third squadron, second element, number one position.

I saw B-17 No. 428 last at 1426 hours from 23000 feet at 4738N/1811E where flak hit the number two engine and the A/C burst into flames. The A/C then peeled off to the right losing altitude but still under control. The A/C then came back in behind the formation and blew up. I observed four chutes, one (1) of which appeared to be on fire.

S/Sgt. Maurice Tilby

Statement of Cpl. William Kopke, tail gunner on B-17 No. 378, flying in formation of the first wave, third squadron, third element, number one position.

I saw B-17 No. 428 last at 1425 hours form 22800 feet at 4743N/1812E where I observed that he had received a direct hit in the number two engine which burst into flames; he peeled off to the right and went into a dive. I then observed one (1) chute. After he leveled off, I observed that the fire was out and the plane went into the clouds and I saw the plane no more.

Cpl. William Kopke

Statement of Cpl. Ronald T. Sebold, bombardier (toggelier) on B-17 No. 378, flying in formation of the first wave, third squadron, third element, number one position.

I saw B-17 No. 428 last at 1425 hours from 22800 feet at 4745N/1812E where he had received a direct hit in the number two engine and burst into flames. I observed the A/C peel off from the formation losing altitude. Because my range of view was then obstructed, I didn’t see him again and observed no chutes.

Cpl. Ronald T. Sebold

B-17 44-6428 Crew