Production-block:
B-17G-55-DL: 44-6501 to 44-6625
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 2nd Bomb Group
- 301st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 20th Bomb Squadron
- 32nd Bomb Squadron
MACR: 12366
History of
B-17 44-6546
Delivered Hunter 4/9/44; Grenier 21/9/44; Assigned 20BS/2BG Amendola 3/10/44; transferred 32BS/301BG Lucera 29/10/44; Missing in Action Vienna 12/2/45 with Merrill Barnes, Co-pilot: Ward, Navigator: Edelen, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harper, Radio Operator: Whitcombe, Ball turret gunner: Olis, Waist gunner: Thomas,Tail gunner: Elmer (8 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Bowman, Waist gunner: Losh (2 Killed in Action); flak, crashed Tapolza; Missing Air Crew Report 12366.
Last updated: 15. April 2020
B-17 44-6546 Details
From MACR 12366
I was flying Ball turret on A/C 44-6357 in the 21 position and saw 546 just after it started to peel out of formation and it was going into a spin. The outer leading edge of the left wing crumpled and caught fire and the plane continued down in a flat spin. I saw one chute open and just at 546 went into the clouds I thought another one opened, but I am not positive. Through breaks in the clouds, I saw the plane still in a spin. Through another opening I saw the plane hit the ground and black smoke rising up, but clouds immediately obscured my vision. I don’t think the men had a chance of survival unless some more chutes came out below the clouds.
S/Sgt. William C. Kilby
I was flying left waist gunner in A/C 44-6403 in 23 position. About ten minutes after the target, A/C 44-6546 seemed to have been hit hard in the left wing and gas could be seen leaking very badly. 546 started pulling out of the formation and the left wing started to roll up from the tip. The plane started into a slow roll and fire broke out. Two chutes were seen to open and possibly a third. The plane then went into the layer of clouds at about 10000 and that was the last I could observe. I doubt that the rest of the crew had much of a chance to get out of the plane unless they came out under the undercast.
S/Sgt. Richard A. Stumbaugh
B-17 44-6546 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Merrill E. Barnes | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Lawrence A. Ward | POW | - |
| NAV | F/O | Robert Elmer Edelen | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Dale H. Harper | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | David W. Whitcombe | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Edward S. Olie | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Athanasius P. Thomas | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Sanford E. Losh | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Gael W. Elmer | POW | - |
| TOG | S/SGT | Deveroux W. Bowman | KIA | - |
12. May 2020 access_time 6:00
My Uncle was Staff Sgt Sanford E Losh. I am now into collecting B-17 Diecasts and want to build models, etc.
I am wondering if there are any photos in existence of the 44-6546. I would lover to have them for display and for help with modeling.
I also just received a WWII era Bomber Jacket and got a 32nd Bomb Group Patch, a 15th Air Force patch (plan to wear it as a tribute to him and the rest of the 44-6546 crew and other B-17 crews) but was unable to find a patch for the 301st Bomb Group. Wondering if anyone has any sources for those.
10. January 2023 access_time 5:01
My father was the pilot of 6546. Have you seen the MACR’s. I spoke with the tail gunner who went down with the plane (and obviously survived) who witnessed the efforts to get Sanford out of the plane. It was chaos.
27. May 2023 access_time 14:32
My uncle, Sanford E. Losh, was killed in action, as listed above. I am his baby sister’s daughter. I have read every letter that he wrote to my grandparents and his siblings, and was so in love with that era that my grandmother gave me all of the letters and the certificate for his Purple Heart. I remember the stories so well, and when I grew up, I joined the Navy and served eight years active duty, and two years in the reserves. I have his training records and the letters he wrote about his promotions, and the good friends he made while serving. I would greatly appreciate any information about days leading up to the plane crash and his death. I do remember hearing that his strap that held him in was hard to detach and there were efforts made but ultimately he couldn’t get out. I pull out all of his letters on Memorial Day and remember his ultimate sacrifice.