B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 44-6757

History of
B-17 44-6757

Delivered Hunter 4/11/44; Grenier 17/11/44; Assigned 342BS/97BG Amendola 3/12/44; Missing in Action Vienna 16/3/45 with P: Paul D. Algeo – KIA; CP: Edward T. Cullen – KIA; NAV: Irving A. Landa – RTD; BOMB: William H. Vale – RTD; ENG/TT: James E. Mellor – KIA; RO: Herbert P. Levinson – KIA; BT: James W. Alexander – KIA; WG: Richard J. Barlog – KIA; WG: Adolph E. Kokoefer – KIA; TG: William J. Tubb – KIA; PHOTO: Wilber P. Wolfe – KIA; mid air coll with 42-102939, ditched Adriatic; Missing Air Crew Report 13051.

Last updated: 4. September 2023

B-17 44-6757 Details

Mid-air-collision with B-17 #42-102939 on 16 March 1945.

Statement

We were approximately at 14000 feet, already on oxygen, climbing through soup. Sometimes I was unable to see the lead ship. 

I had just finished putting my parachute pack on when we had a sharp bump that seemed to pull us to the left. Immediately before this, and at this moment I wasn’t able to see any other ship. About two or three seconds later our ship took a steep bank to the left and someone shouted something over the inter phone. The ship seemed to be careening wildly.

I was the first to reach the nose escape hatch. I immediately pulled the emergency release but the hatch failed to open. There was no handle on the door, so I was unable to turn the latch. I pounded on the hatch but was unable to open it.

Finally, perhaps a minute after I had started, the bombardier shoved the hatch with his foot and it fell away. I jumped possibly at an altitude of from six to eight thousand feet. The plane seemed to be spinning while I was in it. Someone, possible the engineer started down from the flight deck while I was struggling with the hatch. He probably decided to go back toward the waist. I saw three parachutes open.

2Lt. Irvin A. Landa, Navigator

Source: MACR 13051

B-17 44-6757 Crew