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Source:
www.457thbombgroupassoc.org
Production-block:
B-17G-60-VE: 44-8301 to 44-8400
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 385th Bomb Group
- 457th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 749th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: G
MACR: 13882
History of
B-17 44-8368
Delivered Dallas 22/8/44; Langley 20/9/44; Dow Fd 2/10/44; Assigned 385BG Gt Ashfield 14/10/44; transferred 749BS/457BG [G] Glatton 19/11/44; Missing in Action Oranienburg 10/4/45 with Capt Melvin Fox, Co-pilot: Lt Col Rod Francis, Navigator: Beverley Robertson, Bombardier: Capt Chas Musgrove, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Adrian Belanger, Ball turret gunner: Alvin Prokup,Tail gunner: Capt Monroe Hotaling, mickey/op-Lt Gerald Zelikofsky, radar/nav-Lt Paul Bertinstein (9 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Lloyd Blood (Killed in Action); jet enemy aircraft, crashed Bernau, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 13882.
Last updated: 21. November 2020
B-17 44-8368 Details
Summary of Eye-Witness Accounts
Three to four ME-262’s attacked the group from the tail just after the turn off the target. No flak was encountered.
A slit four or five feet long and parallel to the air vents (Louvres) was torn in the top of the left wing. The slit was two or three feet ahead of the air vents and between number 1 and number 2 engines, but closer to number 1 engine. There was a glowing fire visible inside the wing through this slit.* Smoke was seen to come from this part of the wing as the A/C left the formation. The smoke did not apear to increase but rather to decrease as the A/C got farther away.
A/C 368 was under control until about 10 miles from the formation. Up to that point it had been heading in an easterly direction. It then began to circle to the left back toward the formation. It had completed about a half circle when it suddenly went into a spin smoking heavily, and blew up either in the air or on hitting the ground.
No parachutes were seen.
A/C 386 was the lead A/C in the lead squadron. After another A/C called the leader on VHF and told him of the fire, A/C 368 lowered its wheels and left the formation. This was at 1457 hours, four minutes after bombs away. A/C 368 raised its wheels again after leaving the formation.
* Seen by the DR navigator of the deputy lead A/C. A/C 368 passed right under the deputy lead A/C and the DR navigator looked out his window and saw the top of A/C 368’s left wing.
Source: MACR 13882
B-17 44-8368 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | CPT | Melvin M. Fox | POW | - |
| CP | LTC | Roderick L. Francis | POW | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Beverly C. Robertson | POW | - |
| BOMB | CPT | Charles E. Musgrove | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Adrian A. Belanger | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Lloyd J. Blood | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Alvin B. Prukop | POW | - |
| TG | CPT | Monroe J. Hotaling | POW | - |
| NAV2 | 2LT | Paul L. Hertenstein | POW | - |
| RCM | 2LT | Gerald Zelikofsky | POW | - |
21. April 2023 access_time 2:29
Hello my father was the top turret gunner and radio operator.
01. July 2023 access_time 21:40
My great uncle Charles was the bombardier! He actually parachuted out, into the top of a vbery tall tree where Nazi soldiers surrounded him and forced him to jump to the ground. With this he broke his leg very badly, received almost no medical treatment and after the war was over, his leg never fully recovered. Until he died he wore a platform sole on one foot, to make his legs the same length.