B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 44-6547 / Dixie Queen

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