B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies Latest entries in the database

Delivered Denver 1/10/43; Gr Island 24/10/43; Assigned 527BS/379BG [FO-S] Kimbolton 22/11/43; during assembly for mid-air coll with 42-31441 (303BG), with Wayne Maresh, Co-pilot: Frank Mailander, Navigator: Bob Romme, Bombardier: Burton Kashatt, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Williams, Radio Operator: Orvis Wilsey,Tail gunner: Jerry Gentile (7 Killed in Action), Ball turret gunner: Albt McGrew, Waist gunner: Jim O’Neil, Waist gunner: Maurice Cheramie (3WIA); crashed Covington, Hunts, UK. Salvaged.

Delivered Denver 2/11/42; Saline 15/12/42; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-J] Molesworth 1/2/43; landing accident with Bob O’Connor 31/5/43; battle damaged over Oschersleben 11/1/44 with John Henderson, Co-pilot: Walter Ames, Navigator: Warren Wiggins, Bombardier: Woody Monkres, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Stan Moody, Radio Operator: Bob King, Ball turret gunner: Ed Ruppel, Waist gunner: Bill Simpkins (8 Returned to Duty); Waist gunner: Bob Jeffrey{wia-died base hospital},Tail gunner: Ralph Burkart (2KIA-rocket hit stabiliser); on return aircraft force landed at 2AD Watton, Nfk; Returned to the USA Amarillo 3/4/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Stillwater 24/9/45. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY.

Delivered Geiger 22/12/41; Assigned 93BS/19BG Java 11/2/42 with Boron; with J.E. Hensler strafed Jackson Fd, Port Moresby while taxying 25/12/41, repaired and became hack for Lt Gen Krueger 6th Army, called BILLY, then Written off in New Guinea 3/6/45.

Delivered Cheyenne 3/3/44; Dorval 10/3/44; Assigned RAF [HB784]; transferred USAAF 31/3/44; Assigned 562BS/388BG [B] Knettishall 1/7/44; Missing in Action Munich 31/7/44 with Jim Crider, Co-pilot: Fred Gordon, (no nav), Bombardier: Bill Stewart, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Young, Radio Operator: Ed Levy, Ball turret gunner: Albt South, Waist gunner: John Kreitzman,Tail gunner: Gene Johnson (8 POW); flak, crashed Legau, S of Memmingen, Ger, close to Swiss border. Missing Air Crew Report 7746.

Delivered Cheyenne 4/8/44; Lincoln 15/8/44; Grenier 3/9/44; Assigned 407BS/92BG [PY-K] Podington 4/9/44; crashed on take off Kassel 15/12/44 with Lyle Ruka; aircraft expl, crew safe; Salvaged 15/12/44.

Delivered Hunter 17/8/44; Grenier 3/9/44; Assigned 327BS/92BG [UX-K] Podington 21/9/44; Green Project, Salvaged 9AF Germany 10/12/45. SUSIE Q.

When the Allies left Java, this B-17 was flown to Australia and was still flying combat till the middle of 1942. EL TORO.

Delivered Cheyenne 17/2/44; Rapid City 4/3/44; Dow Fd 14/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 26/4/44; no ops, transferred 327BS/92BG [UX-J] Podington 7/5/44; Missing in Action Posen 29/5/44 with Vic Trost, Co-pilot: Dick Funk, Navigator: Franklin Burks, Bombardier: Joe Topolosky, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Honaker, Radio Operator: George Webster, Ball turret gunner: Sam Johnston, Waist gunner: Milton Powell,Tail gunner: George Keith (9INT); enemy aircraft caused damage, crash landed Bulltofta, Swed; Missing Air Crew Report 5345. W/O; POP.

Delivered Cheyenne 1/5/43; Sioux City 13/5/43; Casper 12/6/43; Smoky Hill 13/6/43; Dow Fd 15/6/43; Assigned 563BS/388BG Knettishall 24/6/43 CLASSY CHASSY; Missing in Action Kassel 30/7/43 with Frank Kelly, Co-pilot: Ken Alexander, Navigator: Carl Alexander, Bombardier: David Adams, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Randall Ryals, Radio Operator: Harry Schwerdt, Ball turret gunner: Carlton Jones, Waist gunner: Joe Marchwinski, Waist gunner: Joe Mascke,Tail gunner: Alex Milligan (10 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Dorla, near Lichtenau, 12 miles SW of Kassel, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 3133. WING AND A PRAYER.

Delivered Denver 12/2/44; 1SAG Langley 11/4/44; Morrison 30/4/44; Assigned (PFF) 49BS/2BG Amendola 2/5/44; transferred 347BS/99BG Tortorella 23/5/44; {49m} to depot 9/1/45; Salvaged 16/5/45.

Delivered MacDill 25/12/41; Assigned 93BS/19BG Java 15/1/42 with Chas Hillhouse, transferred 7BG; after several missions, picking up damage flew to Andir, Java, for repair. When completed 4/3/42 with Dutch pilot Sub Lt Sibolt Kok, Dutch civilian CP Gerald Cherymisin and US T/Sgt Harry Hayes (crew chief), flew it to Port Hedland, Aus. on three good engines. Flew more missions from Australia then returning from Rabual mission crash landed Horn Island, Aus 27/7/42 with Ed Becktold; even further unofficial repairs by Lt Bill Lorance and his crew flew it back to Mareeba, Aus., before eventual salvage and parts used for other B-17s.

Delivered Denver 6/1/44; Kearney 15/1/44; Romulus 23/1/44; Grenier 25/1/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-J] Horham 2/2/44; transferred 412BS [QW-J]; 98m, with S.D. Reed, force landed RAF Coltishakk, 8RTD, 1WIA; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 21/6/44; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 23/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 24/11/45.

Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/43; Gore 19/3/43; Walla Walla 30/3/43; Metropolitan 13/4/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-Q] Framlingham 12/5/43; Horham 15/6/43; 2m, transferred 407BS/92BG [PY-Q] Alconbury 17/6/43; Missing in Action Nantes/Le Mans 4/7/43 with John Campbell, Co-pilot: Hubert Stevenson, Navigator: Burt Hereford, Bombardier: Benedict Kilgrow, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Hetrick, Radio Operator: Rich Rasdall, Ball turret gunner: Chas Chenowith, Waist gunner: Lester Arlington, Waist gunner: Mo Guyon,Tail gunner: Harry Burtin (10 Prisoner of War). Believed crashed in sea. No MACR.

Delivered Denver 15/2/43; Salina 2/3/43; Morrison 29/3/43; Assigned 49BS/2BG Navarin 22/4/43; Chateau-du-Rhumel 27/4/43; Ain M’Lila 17/6/43; Massicault 31/7/43; Missing in Action {24m} Foggia 19/8/43 with John Carter, Co-pilot: Bob Quesnal, Navigator: Bill Galligan, Bombardier: Chas Jacobson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Mike Tegge, Radio Operator: Walter Frei, Ball turret gunner: David Shea, Waist gunner: Harry Swartwood, Waist gunner: Russell Hays,Tail gunner: Emmett Adams (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft ko’d #3, crashed in sea, two chutes seen. Missing Air Crew Report 456.

Delivered Sacramento 17/12/41; Assigned 93BS/19BG Java 14/1/42 with Defrane, then 7BG; strafed Kendari, damaged beyond repair and burned by US 16/1/42.

Delivered Denver 6/12/43; Kearney 17/12/43; New Castle 8/1/44; Presque Is 10/1/44; Prestwick 18/1/44; Assigned 407BS/92BG [PY-M] Podington 28/1/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 11/9/44 with Tom Andrew, Navigator: John Goodin, Bombardier: Bob Ferrier, Radio Operator: Francis Escente, Claud Vanlandinghem, Waist gunner: Jack Williams (6 Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: Joe Stacey, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jack Hellums,Tail gunner: Paul Hawkins (3 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, ship exploded in mid-air, crashed Frommstedt, N of Erfurt, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 8883. WABBITT.

Delivered Cheyenne 17/11/43; Kearney 7/12/43; Presque Is 8/12/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-Q] Horham 16/12/43; with J.O. Crutchfield force landed RAF Martlesham 10/2/44; Missing in Action [13m] Berlin 6/3/44 with Mike Russell, Co-pilot: Bill Bate, Navigator: Francis Boyle, Bombardier: Harris Board, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill See, Radio Operator: George Bonvenzi, Waist gunner: George Pratt, Waist gunner: Steve Dobish,Tail gunner: Bob Treece (9 Prisoner of War); Ball turret gunner: Dan Giddens (Killed in Action); left group with #3 on fire, crashed Theolstedt, near Colnrade, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2984.

Delivered Cheyenne 14/1/44; Gr Island 30/1/44; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-X] Horham 11/2/44; 9m, Missing in Action Berlin 6/3/44 with Tom Barksdale, Co-pilot: Dave Atwood, Navigator: Fred Biddle, Bombardier: Gus Briding, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Mike Kovich, Radio Operator: Edgar Jurist, Ball turret gunner: Andy Brown, Waist gunner: Chas Hatton, Waist gunner: Paul Fredenburg, Tail gunner: Jim Jackson (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft KO’d #3 & #4, leveled off then #2 caught fire, crashed Barnsdorf, near railtrack to Bremen, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 2982. BERLIN FIRST.

Delivered Sacramento 17/12/41; Assigned 28BS/19BG Java 30/1/42 with A. Key; transferred 7BG, 65BS/43BG damaged in action and crash landed Pasiran 8/2/42; 39TCS/317TCG Dobodura 11/43; took part in first Air Drop 19/12/43 with Capt Lee Bird, Navigator: Seymour Schafer, Radio Operator: George Prezioso, Waist gunner: Lewis Scoot,Tail gunner: Paul Balsewitz; transferred 6PRG/8PRS; according to Reg Tatro flew to Sydney on beer run; ground looped Finchhafen 27/1/45, repaired but eventually W/O at Brisbane 27/1/45. YANKEE DIDD’LER – WOULDN’T IT ROOT YA.

Delivered Cheyenne 18/9/44; Hunter 27/10/44; Grenier 5/11/44; Assigned 429BS/2BG Amendola 22/11/44; transferred 463BG Celone 2/45; 483BG Sterparone 2/45; 346BS/99BR Tortorella; force landed with Bill Flynn three miles S of Lucera A/fd 22/6/45; RetUS, Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 5/1/46.

Delivered Hunter 22/12/44; Grenier 10/1/45; Assigned 751BS/457BG [G] Glatton 6/2/45; Returned to the USA Bradley 9/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 28/11/45.

Delivered Sacramento 17/12/41; Assigned 26BS/11BG Java 20/3/42; transferred 63BS/43BG Townsville, Aus. 20/5/43; Returned to the USA Memphis,TN. 2/8/44; Eglin 5/11/44; Recl Comp 31/10/45. PER DIEM.

Delivered Tulsa 25/2/44; Gr Island 3/3/44; Grenier 22/3/44; Assigned 600BS/398BG [N8-L/A] Nuthampstead 24/4/44; en route Dreux 4/7/44 with Capt Gene Douglas, Co-pilot: Keith Anderson, Navigator: Harry Nelson, Bombardier: Gil Goldman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Alf Burke, Radio Operator: Ken Shutts, exn-Capt Harry Brown, Waist gunner: Jim Basham, Aircom-Major Bob Simeral,Tail gunner: Pasqual Marquez (10 Returned to Duty); #2 engine caught fire, bombs salvoed in empty field, crew bailed OK and ship crashed Truleigh Manor Farm, Edburton, Sussex, UK; Salvaged.

Delivered Cheyenne 20/5/44; Hunter 17/8/44; Grenier 7/9/44; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-F] Horham 8/9/44 LUCKY SHERRY; 335BS [OE-R]; battle damaged Frankfurt 5/1/45 with J.C. Walker; force landed A-70 Laon/Couvron A/fd, Fr; 109m, Returned to the USA Bradley 6/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/7/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 23/11/45. TEMPTATION.