Production-block:
B-17G-60-VE: 44-8301 to 44-8400
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 100th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 351st Bomb Squadron
- RCL: EP-J
MACR: 12046
History of
B-17 44-8379
Delivered Dallas 29/8/44; Hunter 25/9/44; Grenier 3/10/44; Assigned as PFF 351BS/100BG [EP-J] Thorpe Abbotts 12/10/44; Missing in Action Berlin 3/2/45 with Capt John Ernst {Wounded in Action}, Art Jacobson, Lou Chappell, Stewart Gillison {Ex nav}, Dugger West, Chas Webber, Lt Bob Stropp {radar nav}, Warren Winters, George Windisch, Maj Bob Rosenthal {mission pilot] (4 EVD/5 POW/2 KIA (correct ?)); Gene Lockhart (Killed in Action); flak, crashed 15 miles north-west of Neudamm (Dębno, Poland today) . Missing Air Crew Report 12046.
Last updated: 16. March 2024
B-17 44-8379 Details
Aircraft 44-8379 was hit by flak, reported to have been a ground rocket a few seconds before bombs away. Aircraft continued on bomb run and dropped bombs. Fire producing a dense white smoke was seen to break out in the fuselage and bomb bay, including the cockpit.
The bomb bay doors were closes and then reopened. Pilot opened his window and peeled gently off to the right directing the deputy leader to take over lead on VHF.
Aircraft headed north-east and flew level for few moments while six members of the crew bailed out. Three men appeared to come from the waist or tail, while the other three came through the bomb bay.
There was a small explosion in #3 engine nacelle a the aircraft headed down, burning and beginning to spin when last seen at 15,000 feet. Observers believe entire crew had an excellent chance to bail out.
Source: MACR 12046
12. August 2021 access_time 23:28
44-8379 (a Pathfinder Fortress, equipped with H2X bombing radar where the ball turret would normally be) was the last Fortress flown by Lt. Col Robert Rosenthal in WW II, which on February 3, 1945 led the largest American raid ever on Berlin…it was the lead aircraft for the entire raid, with Rosenthal bailing out and landing over Allied/Soviet Red Army-controlled territory – this raid also ended the life of the “likely most-despised Nazi official, as despised by the Germans themselves” as I stated some time ago at https://www.quora.com/Which-person-of-the-Nazi-regime-was-the-most-despised-by-the-Germans-themselves-during-WW2/answer/Dave-Clement-3 – a photo of 44-8379 accompanies the article.
English Wikipedia page on Lt-Col Rosenthal:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rosenthal_(USAAF_officer)
13. August 2021 access_time 9:00
Hello Dave, thank you for sharing that.
I saw a documentary about the B-17 many years ago and “Rosie” told his story. Very interesting and exciting.
Thank you for sharing these links! 🙂
15. August 2021 access_time 2:20
Is “Die Königin von dem Himmeln” (did I get it correct?) the PROPER translation for “The Queen Of The Skies” im Deutsch?
15. August 2021 access_time 8:12
Hello Dave,
proper yes, but sometime the proper translation sounds terrible 😉
So, this is why I translated to “Königin der Lüfte”