B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 44-8594

History of
B-17 44-8594

B-17 44-8594 Details

Interrogation Report – 22 March 1945

This aircraft attacked Wittenburg with the Squadron. Shortly after bombs away the #2 engine ran away and could not be feathered. The aircraft started to drop back from the formation under control. Fighter escort was called and two fighters were reported as going down to escort. Aircraft last heard over VHF at approximately 52°30’N, 08°00’E.

Subject: Techical Sergeant John H. Minassian

The target was in the Berlin area where the B-17 aircraft received a direct flak burst which knocked out the No. 2 engine and crippled the control system. The pilot was unable to keep in formation and was flying alone near Munster at an altitude of 13000 feet when the aircraft was hit by flak again. It immediately went into a spin and then leveled off, spun again and leveled off at which time Sgt. Maietta was able to bail out.

He had bot been on the interphone and, therefore, did not hear any abandon aircraft order from the pilot or co-pilot. Sgt. Maietta cannot remember anything that happened when he bailed out except that he remembers seeing the co-pilot 2Lt. Ira B. Teachay still in the plane. On his descent, Sgt. Maietta recalls seeing five (5) parachutes in the air, one of which was in a streamer and did not open.

After landing Sgt. Maietta later contacted the pilot, 1Lt. Alvin L. Fehrman, the waist gunner, S/Sgt. Edmund A. Jedrzejck, and the ball turret gunner, S/Sgt. William B. Williams. Sgt. Maietta states that he believes other members of the crew including T/Sgt. Minassian were unable to get out of the spinning aircraft and were killed in the crash which followed.

Maj. E. L. Withers, Jr.
Air Corps
Asst. Chief, Intelligence. and Security Division
22 August 1945

Dear Mrs. Minassian:

I am the pilot of John’s crew and would like to tell you all that I know. I am hoping that you have heard something.

On March 15, we bombed Berlin. On the bomb run one engine was hit by anti-aircraft fire. A few minutes later we lost that engine and had to leave the formation.

For two hours, without further trouble we flew toward friendly territory.

Finally, when we needed only three minutes to cross into friendly territory, our plane was hit again by anti-aircraft fire. This time one engine was knocked off, a large hole was made in one wing and the plane went into a spin.

Everyone was ready to leave the plane at any time. Seven parachutes were seen and one parachute did not open. Of course we don’t know whose it was.

I do not know whether or not John was able to get out of the plane. A spin is a pretty violent maneuver.
I am very sorry that I do not have anything more definite to tell you.

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask me. I’ll do my best to answer them.

If you hear anything at all I’d greatly appreciate it if you’ll let me know.

Sincerely yours,
Alvin L. Fehrman
Nashville, Tennessee
July 14, 1945

[…] We went on a mission over Berlin where no. 1 engine was knocked out. then we headed for Brussels, Belgium. We made it about to the Rhine River, West of Munster, Germany. There flack [sic] knocked out no. 1 and no. 3 engines. The ship went into the spin and I bailed out I was captured immediately and met up with the pilot Alvin L. Fehrman, engineer, Mike P. Maietta and Ball Gunner, William B. Williams.

I did not see any of the rest of the crew, whose names are […]

Sincerely yours,
S/Sgt. Edmund Jedrzejek
25 August 1945

Source: MACR 3475

B-17 44-8594 Crew