
Production-block:
B-17G-55-DL: 44-6501 to 44-6625
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 463rd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 772nd Bomb Squadron
MACR: 12098
History of
B-17 44-6547 / Dixie Queen
Delivered Hunter 4/9/44; Grenier 22/9/44; Assigned 772BS/463BG Celone 28/9/44; Missing in Action Bolzano 16/2/45 with Fred Jones, Co-pilot: Joe Favor, Navigator: Gerald Cohen, Bombardier: Ed Gunn, Radio Operator: Auswell Rhudy, Ball turret gunner: Wilson Bongers, Waist gunner: Manny Tulchinsky, Waist gunner: Howard Woy, Tail gunner: Oliver Olivero; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Wilbur Williams (10 Killed in Action); mid air coll with 44-6684, ditched Adriatic Sea, Missing Air Crew Report 12098.
Last updated: 3. February 2021
B-17 44-6547 / Dixie Queen Details
Mid-air-collision with B-17 #44-6684 ‘Kwturbitchin’ on 16.02.1945. 10 KIA
Statements to the loss of B-17 #44-6547 ‘Dixie Queen’
While leading Charlie Squadron on 16 February 1945, we were forced to go up thru a solid overcast. Charlie Squadron was in position on Able Squadron when we started up thru a thin place in the clouds. Able Squadron broke thru on top shortly after entering but Charlie Squadron was in the clouds longer than anticipated. Visibility was so poor that it became impossible for me to see either my number two or three man.
I called my squadron on the radio and told them that we would hold a heading of 60° till we broke out. When we finally broke out, number four man was still in position and number three man was coming into position. I called the rest of the squadron, gave my position, and they soon came back into formation, with the exception of number two and number five. I called several times to them over the radio giving them my position but got no response.
2Lt. William D. Hatcher
Pilot
I was flying Charlie number seven and ship #44-6684 and #44-6547 were flying number five and two, respectively. The squadron was intact when we went into the clouds. After entering them we lost sight of the whole squadron for a few seconds but then they thined out and we saw the squadron again. It was intact except that number six man was sitting quite far out to the left. We then entered another thick cloud and again lost sight of the formation until the clouds had thined out, upon which time I saw only two ships were visible. Thinking that the squadron would not make a turn while in the clouds I continued on a straight course and at the same time climbing. When I broke out there were no other ships in sight so I made a 180° turn and saw our squadron coming towards us. We and number six position joined in our regular position leaving number two and five open until Able leader called up and told us to move up. Just before entering the second cloud bank was the last time I saw either number two or five man, except for the possibility that they were the two ships slightly turning to the right.
1Lt. Dean L. Meier
Pilot
We were flying in group formation over the Adratic at 2000 feet. We started climbing to penatrate the overcast. I was flying Charlie number four, and before entering the overcast my number five and number six ships were flying close formation. We entered the overcast and my right waist gunner reported number five ship moving in close and then moving out and disappearing. The visibility was very poor and all I could see was a faint silhouette of the lead ship and several times the lead ship disappeared. Charlie leader gave his heading as 60°. We soon broke through the overcast. There were two ships in formation, the leader and myself. Number three ship pulled into formation and I saw number six making a 360° turn and then he and number seven pulled into position. I tried contacting both number two and number five but with no response.
1Lt. Rex E. Voeller
Pilot
Source: MACR 12098
B-17 44-6547 / Dixie Queen Crew
Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
P | 1LT | Frederick W. Jones | KIA | - |
CP | 2LT | Joe C. Favor | KIA | - |
NAV | 2LT | Gerald L. Cohen | KIA | - |
BOMB | 1LT | Edward F. Gunn | KIA | - |
ENG/TT | T/SGT | Wilbur A. Williams | KIA | - |
RO | T/SGT | Auswell C. Rhudy, Jr. | KIA | - |
BT | S/SGT | Howard R. Woy | KIA | - |
WG | S/SGT | Wilson E. Bongers | KIA | - |
WG | SGT | Emanuel Tulchinsky | KIA | - |
TG | S/SGT | Oliver F. Olivero | KIA | - |
02. February 2021 access_time 23:14
Where did you get your information on this crew? My uncle was the pilot and the information my grandmother received indicated that all the crew on both planes were lost.
02. February 2021 access_time 23:22
Hello Jeane,
thank you for your information.
It seems, that the information from source (Master Log by Dave Osborne) is not correct.
I checked the MACR files and the crew of #44-6547 were lost, like you mentioned.
I will update it tomorrow.
Cheers
Jing
03. February 2021 access_time 20:29
Hello Jeane,
I have updated this B-17 and crew’s status.
Also added eyewitness statements
08. June 2021 access_time 18:47
I have big news about the 2 airplanes, please contact me
03. April 2022 access_time 4:50
Fabio
What ‘big news’ do you have on the 2 airplanes? Specifically, #44-6547.
04. September 2022 access_time 22:02
RO on B-17 44-6547 / Dixie Queen, Auswell C. Rhudy was my uncle (my mother’s younger brother). The only thing I’ve ever known about him was that his plane was lost in the clouds. Your article here has happily given me at least a little more insight. My question is, were either of the other planes that disappeared ever found (maybe recovered wreckage at the bottom of the sea? It’s sad to know that I was born (1952) several years after that incident and never got the chance to know him, although my mother talked much about him, and I have pictures. He was a fine looking young man.