zoom_in
Source:
www.487thbg.org
Production-block:
B-17G-70-DL: 44-6876 to 44-7000
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 487th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 837th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: 4F-
MACR: 13885
History of
B-17 44-6913 / Queen of Hearts
Delivered Lincoln 16/12/44; Grenier 3/1/45; Assigned 837BS/487BG Lavenham 5/2/45; Missing in Action Brandenburg 10/4/45 with Ed Sell, Ben Hauck, Luther Robinson, John Peters, Bob Brownstein, Solomon Snyder (6 Prisoner of War); Jim McKinney, George Phillips, Johnn Giannini {tg}, Arnold Edwards {sj} (4 evaded capture); jet enemy aircraft, crashed Zobbenitz, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 13885. QUEEN OF HEARTS.
Last updated: 8. July 2023
B-17 44-6913 / Queen of Hearts Details
Just before the I.P. (Initial Point), aircraft 913 started to lag behind. It started coming up again but not in its proper position when the formation was attacked by an ME 262. During the attack the tail gunner of the lead aircraft saw two large bursts hit along the waist windows on both sides.
The aircraft did not catch on fire and stuck with the formation a few minutes longer. Then it turned off to the left, losing altitude very slowly. It seemed to be under control and all 4 engines were going when last seen.
Source: MACR 13885
B-17 44-6913 / Queen of Hearts Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Edward L. Sell | POW | - |
| CP | F/O | Benjamin Hauck | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | James R. McKinney | EVD | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Luther O. Robinson | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | John D. Peters | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Robert L. Brownstein | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Solomon Snyder | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | John S. Giannini | EVD | - |
| TOG | S/SGT | George D. Philips, Jr. | EVD | - |
| --- | S/SGT | Arnold F. Edwards | EVD | Spot-Jammer |
07. October 2020 access_time 12:00
Hello Son. I Lost your email adress for an unknow reason. Can you reply me please. Philippe
23. November 2020 access_time 19:53
Good afternoon, does anyone there by any chance have more complete identifiers for Ed Sell? I assist a group in Germany that believes it found his U.S. dog tag but the serial no. can’t be verified in Fold3 and there are a couple of more people with the same name.
23. November 2020 access_time 21:20
Hello Iain,
I found another Ed Sell.
Send you an email. Please check!
Cheers
Jing
23. January 2025 access_time 5:46
I am Edward “Ted” Sell’s nephew. I found this while researching his missions leading up to his capture and liberation from Stalag 11-A. He wrote his memoirs of this time and I am currently working to publish this for his family. Ben was mentioned frequently in this memoir, along with the rest of his crew.. Please feel free to contact me with more info @ terry.sell@gmail.com. It is quite a tale of the mission, the bailout, and the time spent in Stalag 11A, along with the liberation of the camp. I would be interested in returning his dog tags to his daughters!
23. January 2025 access_time 5:57
Definitely interested in returning his tags to his daughters (my cousins). 2nd Lt. Edward (Ted) Sell passed away in 2002. He wrote a memoir of this particular mission and the subsequent time spent as a POW. I am currently editing and preparing to publish this for his 4 daughters to learn of his and his crews’ heroics and legacy. Feel free to contact me via email. terry.sell@gmail.com
05. February 2024 access_time 0:02
The Queen of Hearts was not this crews regular aircraft. Their normal plane was the Fearless Fosdick, which was being repaired from damage during their previous mission.
My dad, Ben Hauck was the F/O
23. January 2025 access_time 5:49
Please check my comments in this post. I have recently started working on publishing Edward Sell’s memoirs from the mission on April 10, 1945 and the following capture and liberation from Stalag 11A. Ben Hauck was mentioned numerous times in this memoir.