B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 44-8602

B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies 44-8602

Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega

MACR: 11728

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History of
B-17 44-8602

Delivered Lincoln 28/10/44; Grenier 10/12/44; Assigned: 731BS/452BG Deopham Green 22/1/45; battle damage Hamburg 17/1/45 Pilot: Ira Smith, Co-Pilot: Bob Wilcox, Navigator: Bill Nicholson, Bombardier: Howard Simon, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Harry Hoffman, Radio Operator: Bob Scott, Ball Turret Gunner: Haskell Ray, Waist Gunner: Julian Anderson, Tail Gunner: Bill Everly (9INT); flak, forced landing Bulltofta, Sweden. MACR 11728; rep & ret UK; Returned to US: Bradley 1/8/45; Independence 3/8/45; Scrapped: Kingman 10/12/45.

Last updated: 15. June 2025

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B-17 44-8602 Details

Aircraft 602 was seen under control and in a straight glide right after the target – #3 engine was smoking. The tail gunner on one crew reported that the two aircraft that left the Low Squadron were following the formation several miles behind but were still visible as far as the coast out. Other crew reported three B-17’s believed from this Bomb Group seen straggling behind enroute out. If this is correct then this missing aircraft would have been one of them. These aircraft were last seen at the coast out at 1303 hours – their approximate altitude was 20,000 feet.

Source: MACR 11728

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B-17 44-8602 Crew

Position Rank Name Status Note
P 1LT Ira E. Smith INT
CP 2LT Robert D. Wilcox INT
ENG/TT T/SGT Harold F. Huffman INT
RO S/SGT Robert C. Scott INT
BT S/SGT Haskell L. Ray INT
WG S/SGT Julian E. Anderson INT
TG S/SGT William H. Everly INT
TOG T/SGT Howard E. Simon INT

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