Production-block:
B-17G-75-VE: 44-8601 to 44-8700
Manufacturer:
Lockheed/Vega
- Bomb Group:
- 452nd Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 728th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 14184
History of
B-17 44-8634 / Ida Wanna
Delivered Lincoln 9/11/44; Grenier 3/12/44; Assigned: 728BS/452BG Deopham Green 6/12/44; 731BS; MIA Kaltenkirchen 7/4/45 Pilot: Dabney Sharp, Capt Doug Anderson, Carroll Gierde, Joe Stanfield, Jack Basor, Ellwood Fream, John Halbritter {tg} (7KIA); Arris Stephenson, Ralph DeCelle, Stephen Kiss {rcm} (3POW); Enemy aircraft, crashed Heide, Germany. MACR 14184. IDA WANNA.
Last updated: 6. April 2024
B-17 44-8634 / Ida Wanna Details
Following statement obtained by S-2 Section, 452nd Bomb Group (H), at interrogation after return of mission:
A/C #8634, this Group, was hit by fighters in Steinhuder Lake Area but continued with the Group to Coast out point. One wing had been showing flame for about a half hour when at 1355 hours from 19000 feet, 54°20N -08°50E, the A/C with No. 4 feathered turned about and headed apparently for Sweden.
Interrogation of T/Sgt. Arvis D. Stephenson.
At approximately 0130 we hit the target and were proceeding back over the North Sea towards England, our home base. Approximately 23 minutes before we hit the target we were hit on the right side by a ME 109, which resulted in a fire on the right wing. This fire continued during the bomb run over the target, and as we headed for our home base at approximately 0208, the right wing snapped off and we immediately went into a spin. Capt. Anderson, who was the co-pilot was sitting right next to me at that moment. I was sitting in front of the nose escape hatch. I was jettisoned throught the door and pulled my rip cord at approximately 10000 feet. This was the last I saw of Capt. Anderson. Upon bailing out I landed five miles north of the coast of Pewlworn Island (note by Jing: Pellworm Island), located in the North Sea. It was necessary for me to swim about fifty yards to a sand bar. I was picked up about five and one-half hours later by a German patrol boat and returned to the Island.
In my opinion it was impossible for Capt. Anderson to escape for the reason that the plane was in a spin, with only one wing, the result being that when the plane crashed Capt. Anderson undoubtedly met his death. No information was given to me by the German patrols as to the whereabouts of the other members of the crew of the plane.
Source: MACR 14184
Remark to the crew
S/Sgt. Stephen A. Kiss, was assigned to B-17 43-38868 in MACR 13888. Which is incorrect. He and S/Sgt. Robert W. Pearce were switched or changed aircraft at the last moment.
The crew list below is the corrected listing.
B-17 44-8634 / Ida Wanna Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Dabney W. Sharp | KIA | - |
| CP | CPT | Douglas P. Anderson | KIA | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Carroll J. Gjerde | KIA | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Arvis D. Stephenson | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Ralph W. DeCelle | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Jack Basor | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Ellwood E. Fream | KIA | - |
| TG | S/SGT | John F. Halbritter | KIA | - |
| TOG | T/SGT | Joseph C. Stanfield | KIA | - |
| RCM | S/SGT | Stephen A. Kiss | POW | - |
03. December 2019 access_time 3:36
I am looking for information on B-17 #44-8634 Ida Wanna. A man whose last name was Joost was a bombardier for 35 missions. He flew in the plane before it was shot down. I am inquiring for his daughter. She would like to find out more about the plane and where it was stationed at. Her father never said much about his wartime service. Thanks for your assistance.
03. December 2019 access_time 9:28
The B-17 was stationed in Air Force Station “Deopham Green”. Home of the 452nd Bomb Group and 728th Bomb Squadron. Here is an Wikipedia article about the station:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Deopham_Green
29. December 2019 access_time 10:12
Michael, Ida Wanna had 3 crews. The first was headed by Robert A. Minardi, the pilot who named her. I believe he passed away 6-7 years ago, but I think his sons still live in Northern California. I’m assuming Joost was the bombardier in that crew. My Dad was the navigator in the second crew, who took Ida Wanna over when Mindardi’s crew finished their 35. The pilot of the second crew was Joe Stock, who once flew the plane hundreds of miles over German occupied territory with two engines knocked out on the same side, bringing the crew in safely at an RAF fighter base about 3 miles from the English Channel. The bombardier for most of the tour was Emmanuel Agnello. Sadly, Agnello was killed by flak over Hamburg in January 1945. I believe substitute bombardiers rotated in for the remaining two months until the second crew finished their 35.
In theory, Ida Wanna’s third crew should have had a more survivable tour than the first two who flew against a still potent Luftwaffe fighter defense. By Mid-march 1945 when they began their tour, the Luftwaffe had nearly been destroyed. Their replacement pilots didn’t have anywhere near the experience of the eastern front vets they replaced, and their training was cut short so they could be rushed up to face the bombers and the experienced US fighter pilots flying escort. Aggressive strafing of the Luftwaffe airdromes and a lack of fuel also should’ve limited the third crews risk factor to anti-aircraft flak primarily. But, due to the desperate circumstances, the Germans were forced into a few brief experiments with tactics more associated with the Japanese – On only 1 or 2 days in the final month of the air war over Europe, they sent up fighters with orders to ram the B-17s with their planes. Ida Wanna is one of only a handful of bombers lost to German fighters deliberately ramming the bomber streams. From what I’ve read, only 2 of the crew of 10 were able to get out, and parachute to a brief POW confinement. The rest sadly were KIA.
For any specific details about Joost’s tour of 35 missions, your best bet might be to find out the names of the rest of Robert Minardi’s crew from either the 452nd Bomb Group facebook site ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/452nd/ ) ; the American Air Museum in Britain, who have a ton of crew info (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/ ) or the 8th Air Force Museum in Georgia, who probably have more categorized info than anyone ( https://www.mightyeighth.org/ )
Hope this helps!
11. May 2020 access_time 20:49
Jon,
Jon,
My uncle, Dabney Sharp, was the pilot of the plane when it crashed.
There were 3 survivors. The following link provides more information on the final mission.
Thanks for your interest,
Dabney Sharp
https://www.march.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/168537/unit-cited-for-actions-late-in-world-war-ii/
01. June 2021 access_time 3:50
Hi Dabney, Memorial Day greetings, and condolences on the loss of your uncle so long ago. I’d always thought that, with the second crew turning Ida Wanna over only 5 weeks prior to the end of the war in europe that the 3rd crew had seen an abbreviated and easier tour, and made it home – Only in 2018 when some of the 8th AAF databases were made searchable did I learn the actual fate of the 3rd crew. Oddly, my dad had lapsed into a coma at the time I discovered it, and we expected to lose him. But unexpectedly, he rallied, regained consciousness and the ability to converse, and we had him for another 8 months. One of the many things on which I updated him when he ‘came back’ was the discovery regarding Ida Wanna, 73 years earlier. His eyes widened as he took it in.
My Dad’s crew lost their bombardier Emmanual Agnelo to flak in January of ’45, and we remember him especially on Memorial day. But over the past few years, we’ve also remembered the men of the crew that took over Ida Wanna in 1945, and reflect on their sacrifice and the loss you all suffered.
16. August 2022 access_time 7:45
Hi Jon,
My Name is Terry Joost, I am the son of Thomas Joost who was the Bombardier with the 1st Crew to fly on Ida Wanna. Many years ago I had the privilege to correspond with your father. Jon had helped explain many things to me including things that were in the log that my Father had composed covering all 35 missions he flew over Europe. I often thought about Jack after we spoke so Long ago – I am sorry for your loss – he was a very nice man.
12. June 2024 access_time 3:47
My dad’s uncle, Cyril J. Stock was apparently the pilot of the 2nd crew. Decades ago my dad told me that Cyril said that they had holes in the side of the plane that you could walk through and that apparently they had lost a navigator. If the navigator also served as the bombardier, then this lines up.
12. May 2020 access_time 5:49
Hello. My uncle was Captain Dabney W Sharp who was KIA as pilot of the Ida Wanna. My understanding is there were 3 POWS captured on a sand bank by the Germans. One of the POWS Father wrote to my Grandmother and we have an article on the final moments. My bother, Dabney L Sharp (named for my uncle and our Fathers older brother) and I have become very interested in his service and life given. His name is on the Wall of the Missing in Margraten, the Netherlands where he has been adopted by a family we have just recently been in contact by email. They honored the fallen soldiers this week by putting their pictures in their houses, lighting candles and putting pictures in their windows. They are teaching their children and grandchildren to never Forget the sacrifice made for their freedom. They are the most Gracious people! If anyone is a relative of any of the crews of the Ida Wanna, we would love to hear from you. Thank you, Jeanne Sharp Powers
30. January 2024 access_time 17:30
My uncle, Joseph Stanfield died when the Ida Wanna went down. I would appreciate any information about his last mission. He received the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously. Did all the crew members receive this?
11. June 2021 access_time 2:47
Does anyone know if Ida Wanna 44-8634 has been located? Is there a final accounting of the crew members that were lost with the plane? My interest stems from the co-pilot Capt. Douglas Anderson. He had a connection with my family and I’m named after him.
11. June 2021 access_time 3:03
In researching the fate of Ida Wanna 44-8634, I was put in contact with Harry Duccilli who was the lead pilot of a B17 flying under Ida Wanna . I talked with Mr. Duccilli, several years ago, and he said he saw Ida Wanna’s wing burning and he radioed Lt. Sharp. After they dropped the bombs, Mr Duccilli said he saw Ida Wanna head in the direction of Sweden.
28. October 2021 access_time 8:23
Doug, I’m researching the 3 crews of Ida Wanna (my Dad was in the second crew.) I’m curious to find out how long ago you spoke with Harry Duccilli. My father was the last surviving member of his crew when he passed away in 2018. I’m guessing the chance of Harry Duccilli still being around isn’t great, but I’d love to check. I’d also love to speak with you about what you found out.
From what I can tell from USAAF archives and some second-hand Luftwaffe details, the 452nd was in the stream hit by Sonnerkommando Elbe, during their only day of operation during the war. While a couple 452nd forts were actually rammed, Ida Wanna was hit in the wing by cannon fire from one of the Me-109s. Given that, per Luftwaffe records, the only prop-driven fighters in the area were from Sonnerkommando Elbe, with Me-262s flying cover to keep US fighters off the 109s while they pressed their ramming attack on the bombers, the 109 which hit Ida Wanna was likely a would-be rammer, meaning it had been stripped down to a single-cannon.
12. June 2024 access_time 3:49
My dad’s uncle was most likely the pilot of the 2nd crew. Cyril J. Stock. Not much detail other than what I posted above. I barely remember Uncle Cyril but given the stories that I’ve come across on my search and what I’ve heard in the past from family, this does seem to line up.
12. June 2024 access_time 21:40
Hi Greg,
Cyril “Joe” Stock was indeed the pilot of the second crew. My dad was close to him for the rest of their lives. In 1995, 5-6 of the remaining crew were offered a flight on Fuddy Duddy, one of the restored B-17s. Joe flew the plane for about 35 mins. It turned out the Ball Turret gunner Nicky Pappa had not flown a single time in the 50 years since their final mission in 1945, but agreed to go up one more time as Joe was going to be the pilot.
When he found out Joe only had weeks to live in 1997 or 1998, my Dad flew to Indianapolis to say goodbye and thank him, as he felt that Joe’s skill as a pilot and calm under fire were the main reasons he survived the war. I still am in occasional contact with Joe’s son, Daniel.
18. June 2024 access_time 1:26
Jon – Thank you for the information. Because my dad’s uncle Cyril didn’t talk about the war much, my dad had told me that Cyril had lost a navigator. But reading this thread I see that it was the bombardier. Supposedly the plane had holes in the side that you could walk through but my guess is that maybe Cyril was referring to other planes.
In the early 1980’s, my dad’s brother or my own uncle was flying with Cyril up to EAA in Oshkosh for the show. They stopped at our house in the Chicagoland area and I remember Cyril as having been excited at seeing a B-17 saying “they had my plane!”. The last time that I talked to his son Dan was probably at a family reunion in the early 90’s.
28. October 2021 access_time 21:31
Jon Taylor: Thanks for replying. If you have been searching for B17, 44-8634, MACR 14184, you most likely have seen what I have. Additionally I contacted the 452nd BGA. Communicated with Carolyn Boatwright. She apparently reached out to her members and I received that call from Harry Duccilli. This was sometime in 2012. That was the last I heard from him. Also around that time I was was given a phone number for Arvis Stephenson, one of the survivors. I called and left a message, but never heard back. I have since heard he passed away. I am still interested in the fate of the plane and it’s missing crew. Thanks, Doug
05. November 2021 access_time 23:05
Doug, I believe that both Arvis Stephenson and Ralph DeCelle, the two survivors from the 3rd crew of Ida Wanna, have both since passed away. I found an obit for Stephenson.
BTW – The interview with Stephenson from the top of this page is an excerpt from the full post-mortem on Ida Wanna conducted by 8th AAF officers in September of 1945. It’s available via Fold3, the online archive now owned by Ancestry.com. Have you seen the handful of docs they have? If not, I’m happy to send your way.
29. October 2021 access_time 20:13
I am looking for a picture of the nose art on this aircraft. ida wanna B17 44-8644
05. November 2021 access_time 23:09
Larry, by late 1944, Ida Wanna didn’t have any artwork on the nose. Simply the name “Ida Wanna” in block letters. There was a curvy pin-up girl painted on the second crew’s A-2 jackets, but it doesn’t seem to have been replicated on the aircraft. It may have existed earlier, but not by the time the second crew was flying her, Sept. ’44 – late Feb. ’45.
21. March 2024 access_time 1:25
My uncle Joe Stanfield and Mr. Halbritter were buried on Pellworm Island. The rest of the casualties were unrecoverable. Ralph DeCelle said that he saw two other parachutes. I think my Uncle and Mr. Halbritter were those two. Any thoughts or information?
31. January 2024 access_time 16:36
My father, Myrom Lowe ‘Hap’ Potter was co-pilot on the Ida Wanna. Since I remember him talking about ‘Aggie,’ or Agnello I assume he was in the second crew. His flight jacket did have the pinup picture. I know my parents went to some of the group’s reunions in the 80s. I just discovered this page looking for the artwork. My dad told only a few stories, so it’s good to find more. Thanks for all of this info.
20. February 2024 access_time 19:49
I am the son-in-law of Edward Chute who trained with Dabney Sharpe in the States in 1944 and then flew with Sharpe with the 452nd. I have a photo of the crew. Looking for information concerning a possible friendly fire incident with the 452nd and US ground troops in 1945.This was told to me by Arvis Stephenson in 2007. I also have a photo of the nose of the IDA WANNA.
09. October 2024 access_time 3:40
I’m Dan Stock, the youngest son of Cyril Joseph “Joe” Stock. Dad was the pilot of the 2nd crew. It was on their 26th mission when the bombardier Agnallo was killed by flak. When dad died, I got the honor of notifying his surviving crew members of his death, so I got to speak to Jon’s dad JC Taylor and the ball gunner Dominic Papa. They told me a very heroic tale of Agnallo. Apparently the flak helmets that all were issued got in the way when trying to run the bombsight, so many bombardiers took them off over target so they could get an accurate drop. It was right after calling “bombs away” and signaling dad to take control of the plane back that the flak exploded, hitting “Aggie” in the head and killing him instantly. Dom Papa and JC both told me that dad had scolded him repeatedly to keep the helmet on, but accomplishing his mission was more important to him than his life. Aggie had kept a flight log of all their missions, and after his death dad kept it to remember his closest friend at the time, Aggie. Dad told me it was his flight log, apparently unable to completely accept Aggie was gone. When i realized that there were only 25 missions in it and it was referring to someone named “Joe” i realized that it was really Aggie’s. With Jon Taylors great help, I managed to return the flight log to Aggie’s younger brother who survived him. He kept it for a few months, but then gave it back to me on the promise that I would tell his older brother’s story. Dad would want it that way too. if anyone wants to read Aggie’s log, I can get them a pdf copy. I have the pin-up girl leather patch from the plane in a display case of my dad’s medals. It’s rather spicy.
06. November 2024 access_time 21:52
Hello Dan, hope you read this.
I’ve sent you email, but they always returned to sender (me).
Please contact me again. Have some questions and information.
Cheers
Jing
09. October 2024 access_time 3:57
I have more stories that JC Taylor and Dom Papa told me. Dad told very few stories of the war, and choked back tears of most of them. He did talk glowingly of the 1980’s crew reunion where he got to fly the Ida Wanna again with some of his crew mates. I know that Dom Papa, JC Taylor, Hap Potter joined him, but I don’t know of the others. I got almost all of the stories from JC Taylor and Dom Papa. They were very gracious to tell be about dad’s and the crew’s missions. I’d love to pass them on some time.
13. October 2024 access_time 3:54
I meant to say “when he got to fly in the Fuddy Duddy”. Ida was destroyed as Jon noted detailed above.