B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 44-6513 / Boise Bell

History of
B-17 44-6513 / Boise Bell

Delivered Lincoln 26/8/44; Grenier 11/9/44; Assigned 860BS/493BG Debach 13/9/44; base taxi accident with Milo Keltner 14/1/45; Missing in Action Munich 9/4/45 with John Silverman, John Julianelle, Stan Reisenburger, Dan Kurnick, Herb Walton, Bob Doine, Len Gokey, Bill Millan, Bernie Morrison tg, Frank O’Rourke rcm (10 Killed in Action); flak, crashed Munich, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 13908. BOISE BELL.

Last updated: 12. April 2021

B-17 44-6513 / Boise Bell Details

A/C 513 was flying the deputy lead of the high squadron when the group attacked the assigned primary target at Schleissheim, an enemy airfield near Munich. At 1650 hours, at 22500 feet, 10 seconds after bombs away, A/C 513 received a direct flak hit on the leading edge of the left wing between No. 1 and No. 2 engines. As the stricken a/c pulled out of formation to the right, the outer half of the left wing broke off and the a/c was enveloped in flames. About 200 yards to the right and 500 feet below the formation. A/C 513 was seen to explode and turn over on its back. The a/c was then a blazing mass and dove almost straight down in a slow spin, disintegrating on the way down. A/C 513 was last seen to crash into the ground near the target.

Immediately after A/C 513 was hit and turning off the target, two of the crew were seen to jump out the waist escape hatch, but no chutes were seen to open. Lt. Gorman, in A/C 448 reported seeing one chute which was on fire.

B-17 44-6513 / Boise Bell Crew