Production-block:
B-17G-55-DL: 44-6501 to 44-6625
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 398th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 602nd Bomb Squadron
- RCL: K8-F
MACR: 10175
Missions: 3
History of
B-17 44-6519
Delivered Lincoln 29/8/44; Grenier 18/9/44; Assigned 602BS/398BG [K8-F] Nuthampstead 3/10/44; (3m) Missing in Action Munster 28/10/44 with Harry Connolly, Co-pilot: George Crowe, Navigator: Lew Slade, Bombardier: Roger Ericrson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: George Roby, Ball turret gunner: Francis Daly, Waist gunner: Milford Pinson,Tail gunner: Virgil Fuller (8 Killed in Action); Radio Operator: Bill Hamor (Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Nienberge, NW of Munster, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 10175. [?10157].
Last updated: 22. February 2020
B-17 44-6519 Details
Witness Statements from MACR 10175
Shortly after bombs away (1430) I noticed the left wing ship of the Low element go into a slight dive. Our ship having an interphone jackbox leak I heard, over the radio, some plane say that they had been hit.
Seconds later I saw the tail of this ship explode by the waist door or slightly behind. The whole tail seemed to disentigrate, all three members of the tail assembly separating.
At this time I heard, over the radio, someone say, “there goes our tail”
As the tail came off the plane eased into a vertical dive and passed unter our wing out of view. I saw no chutes.
Harold R. Van Opdorp
2LT, Air Corps
Pilot, B17G 42-97249
I saw a 105 MM shell glance up the right side of Lt. Connolly’s fuselage just in front of the tail wheel position. About half ay up it exploded and the entire tail started to buckle and the ship started to dive at an angle of about thirty degrees. I saw no parachutes.
F/O Julius S Zlasner
Navigator, B17G 43-38836
About half minute before bombs away (1429) I saw a ship ahead of me going down. I saw no smoke but the tail secion had been blown off, and the ship locked as if it were going almost straight down. It wasn’t in a spin. I watched it for a while until it disappeared into the clouds. As far as I could see not chutes came out of the ship.
S/Sgt. John W Hunter
Togglier, B17G 43-38064
B-17 44-6519 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Harry J. Connolly | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | George R. Crowe | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Roger J. Erickson | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Lewis G. Slade | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | George T. Roby | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | William T. Hamor | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Francis A. Daly | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Milford C. Pinson | KIA | - |
| TG | SGT | Virgil L. Fuller | KIA | - |
22. February 2022 access_time 2:14
Hi, habe ein paar 44-6519 wrackteile, mit nummern, vor 8 jahre im wald nahe nienberge gefunden bzw. augebuddelt, wn-bericht daruber gelesen, eigentlich wollte ich die sachen an nicole eilers und robyn l. rodriguez uberreichen, aber sie waren leider schon weg. mfg