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

Delivered Cheyenne 16/3/43; Dow Fd 24/5/43; Assigned 410BS/94BG [GL- ] Earls Colne 28/5/43; Rougham 13/6/43; Missing in Action Kiel 13/6/43 with Lloyd Weldon, Co-pilot: Bob Curtis, Navigator: Wilson Brown[body washed up Sonderskov, Den., Bombardier: Quinton Williamsbody washed up near Kiel, Ger., Radio Operator: Roger Beadle, Ball turret gunner: Harry Pyle, Waist gunner: Willis Rosenberger, Waist gunner: John Gonzales,Tail gunner: Sam Collins (9 Killed in Action); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Hale (Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, ditched Baltic Sea. Missing Air Crew Report 15839; BUCKSHOT.

Delivered Cheyenne 17/4/43; Smoky Hill 25/4/43; Presque Is 15/5/43; Assigned 333BS/94BG [TS-A] Earls Colne 24/5/43 CHEROKEE; Rougham 13/6/43; Missing in Action Warnemunde 29/7/43 with Ned Palmer, Co-pilot: Gene Snyder, Navigator: Frank Pellegrino, Bombardier: Art Cooper, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Christos Bassios, Radio Operator: George Hamling, Ball turret gunner: Vernon Rathburn, Waist gunner: Damon Cottingham, Waist gunner: Olin Brown,Tail gunner: Bill Clark (10 Prisoner of War); flak hit, force landed Avedoerre, six miles S of Copenhagen, Den. Missing Air Crew Report 202. DOWN and GO !. (Repaired at Karlsrup by Luftwaffe KG200 and used as A3+CE 230146, but eventually crashed on take off at Echterdingen, Ger. 9/2/45.)

Delivered Cheyenne 1/6/43; Gore 14/6/43; Kearney 15/6/43; Eglin 7/7/43; Dow Fd 8/7/43; Assigned 332BS/94BG Rougham 8/7/43; transferred 410BS; Missing in Action Wilhelmshafen (T/O) 26/7/43 with Gerald Smith, Co-pilot: Harry Lockwood, Navigator: Othello Upton, Bombardier: McCormick, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Stubble, Radio Operator: Harden, Ball turret gunner: Mike ? ; Waist gunner: Black, Waist gunner: Norbert Olshefki,Tail gunner: John McTaggart (10 Returned to Duty); flak hit #1 engine and damaged wing, then enemy aircraft, ditched North Sea; Missing Air Crew Report 84; RAMSBITCH.

Delivered Dallas 15/6/43; Presque Is 17/8/43; Assigned 365BS/305BG [XK-M] Chelveston 20/8/43; Missing in Action Bremen 20/12/43 with Bill Nordyke, Co-pilot: Ed Phillips, Navigator: Chas Maynardbody found in Frischenmoor swamp near Oldenburg, chute failed, Radio Operator: Jesse Moore, Waist gunner: Wayne Thulin, Waist gunner: Emmet Ludy (6 Killed in Action), Bombardier: Royce Hatchett, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Bockus, Ball turret gunner: Ed Crouthamel,Tail gunner: Dick Heywood (4 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Bentstreek, 15 miles SE of Aurich, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 1709.

Delivered Denver 4/1/44; Savannah 23/1/44; Assigned 349BS/100BG [XR-H] PFF Thorpe Abbotts 7/2/44; Missing in Action Berlin 19/5/44 with Ralph Horne, Co-pilot: John McGrath, Navigator: Doug Hiley, Bombardier: Jack Evans, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Fosdick, Radio Operator: Larry Wiley, Ball turret gunner: Carlos Hunt, Waist gunner: Joe Perinsky, Waist gunner: Shelly Hall,Tail gunner: Joe Staron (10 Prisoner of War); hit by FW 190s, ditched near Glaeno Is in Baltic Sea, picked up by enemy after paddling ashore; Missing Air Crew Report 4948.

Delivered Denver 17/3/43; Smoky Hill 5/4/43; Presque Is 29/4/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-I] Chelveston 16/5/43; {24m} Missing in Action Bremen 26/11/43 with Capt Addell Cote, Co-pilot: Clarry Bixler, Navigator: Wilbur Barnhill, Bombardier: John Hull{body washed up Terschelling Is, Hol. 13/2/44}, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Arter, Radio Operator: Vaughn Reaves, Ball turret gunner: Cecil May, Waist gunner: Theo Gomes, Waist gunner: John Micek,Tail gunner: Paul Gunsauls (10KIA rest of crew never found); mech fault, crashed Den Helder, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 1324. MR FIVE BY FIVE.

Delivered Dallas 26/9/43; Gr Island 13/10/43; Assigned 708BS/447BG [CG-L] Rattlesden 19/11/43; Missing in Action Rostock 11/4/44 with Howard Pauling, Co-pilot: Lauren Davis, Bombardier: Paul Scherer, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Glen Standish, Waist gunner: Leo Kingston,Tail gunner: Elvin Albaum (6 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Ernie Morman, Radio Operator: Paul Knight, Ball turret gunner: Jim Prusa, Waist gunner: Henry McCowan (4 Prisoner of War); flak, crash landed Bornholm Is, near Ibsker, Den. Missing Air Crew Report 3824. BIG STOOP.

B-17F 41-24579 “Thumper” was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-F] 17-Feb-42 Gowen Field, Idaho; Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Aircraft damaged by AA fire and enemy fighters on mission to Lorient, France on 23-Jan-43. 11 man crew. Belly-landed at Lulsgate Bottom, Bristol, UK. Aircraft was too damaged to repair and was salvaged. 6RTD 4WIA 1KOM. No MACR issued.

Delivered Cheyenne 3/5/43; Gore 22/5/43; Spokane 24/5/43; Geiger 26/5/43; Smoky Hill 2/7/43; Dow Fd 13/7/43; Assigned 570BS/390BG [DI-H] Framlingham 14/7/43; crash landed 21/9/43 with Keith E. Harris, repaired and back on duty; Missing in Action Rostock 20/2/44 with Bill Gaillard, Co-pilot: Gerald Steuck, Navigator: Tom Gannon, Bombardier: Francis Brodzik, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Doherty, Radio Operator: Ray Quinn, Ball turret gunner: Pete Whitney, Waist gunner: Jack Williams, Waist gunner: Joe Sala,Tail gunner: Lou Skrzyniecki (10 Prisoner of War); no gas, crashed Tierstrup, Den. Missing Air Crew Report 2436. SPOT REMOVER.

Delivered Tulsa 31/1/44; Kearney 5/2/44; Assigned 710BS/447BG [IJ-L] Rattlesden 3/3/44; Missing in Action Augsburg 13/4/44 with Joe Thornbury, Co-pilot: Albt Cowey, Navigator: Dominick Padula, Bombardier: George Filush, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Smith, Radio Operator: George S. George, Ball turret gunner: Dante Rich, Waist gunner: Lloyd Roach, Waist gunner: Harry Kiehn,Tail gunner: Stan Saviski (10INT); flak KOd #2, bomb load salvoed, force landed Dubendorf Afd, Switz. Missing Air Crew Report 4297.

Delivered Denver 28/12/43; Kearney 18/1/44; Morrison 31/1/44; Assigned 550BS/385BG [SG-L] Gt Ashfield 15/2/44; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 13/4/44 with Harvey Downs, Co-pilot: Jim Bigham, Navigator: Haywood Haynes, Bombardier: Joe Muscari, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Curtis McCafferty, Radio Operator: Frank Tanner, Ball turret gunner: Adam Koziol, Waist gunner: Ray Koenig, Waist gunner: Meredith Travis,Tail gunner: Bob Morrison (10INT); flak KOd engine and some controls then enemy aircraft KOd another engine, force landed Dubendorf, Switz. Missing Air Crew Report 3771. PRIDE OF THE YANKEES.

Delivered Cheyenne 6/12/43; Kearney 16/12/43; Gt Falls 1/1/44; Presque Is 3/1/44; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-Q] Framlingham 16/1/44; Missing in Action Augsburg (22m) 13/4/44 with Don Cooper, Co-pilot: Nelson Cockrum, Navigator: Art Johnson, Bombardier: Joe Boyd, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Thaylus Embree, Radio Operator: Howard Robinette, Ball turret gunner: Guy Rakes, Waist gunner: Walt Grogan, Waist gunner: Wilford Doolittle,Tail gunner: Bill Bereschak (10INT); flak hit gas tank, #1 engine windmilling; hit by Swiss flak over Winterhur, crash landed Oberglatt, Switz. With over 30 flak holes, ship dismantled and stored at Kloten; six of the crew escape into France:- Boyd, Embree, Robinette, Rakes, Grogan and Doolittle, who returned via the French underground. Missing Air Crew Report 3947 (8). LASSIE.

Delivered Cheyenne 3/5/43; Gore 24/5/43; Smoky Hill 25/5/43; Kearney 27/5/43; Dow Fd 2/6/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-X] Alconbury 16/6/43; Ground looped on return from mission 24/12/43, with John Hubbs, Co-pilot: John Evans, Navigator: A. Stachnik, Bombardier: O.F. Staats, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: D. Koloskio, Radio Operator: E. Lipuma, Ball turret gunner: Z. Ragan, Waist gunner: Ralph Brinson, J. Marron,Tail gunner: W. Harrington, ship later struck by 42-39883; force landed Andrews Field, UK with F. McLane 4/3/44; 37m, Missing in Action Augsburg 13/4/44 with Harvey Johnson, Bombardier: Bill Downey, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Walker, Radio Operator: Bob Hart, Ball turret gunner: Bill Budewitz, Waist gunner: Ira Newport, Waist gunner: Len Henderson,Tail gunner: Jim Johnson (8 Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: Clyde Northcott, Navigator: John Bowler (2INT); flak KOd #2 and #4, force landed Altenrhein Afd, Switz. Missing Air Crew Report 3765. Returned to the USA Morrison 22/10/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 8/1/46. RHAPSODY IN FLAK

Delivered Cheyenne 24/1/44; Kearney 11/2/44; Grenier 25/2/44; Presque Is 2/3/44; Assigned 711BS/447BG [IR-C] Rattlesden 16/3/44; Missing in Action Augsburg 13/4/44 with Capt Oliver Keller, Co-pilot: Capt Larry Maguire, Navigator: Bill Bird, Bombardier: Jesse Smith, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Coleman Hodges, Radio Operator: Bob McReynolds, Ball turret gunner: Eddes King, Waist gunner: Stan Postelnik, Waist gunner: Tony Coputo,Tail gunner: Lt John Hodges (10INT); flak ko’d #4 engine and gas leak, force landed Dubendorf Afd, Switz. Missing Air Crew Report 4296. VIRGINIA LEE II.

Delivered Cheyenne 9/5/43; Gore 18/5/43; Geiger 25/5/43; Gt Falls 7/6/43; Smoky Hill 30/6/43; Dow Fd 12/7/43; Assigned 568BS/390BG [BI-H] Framlingham 13/7/43 THE DOUCHE BAG; Missing in Action Frankfurt 4/1/44 with Jim Prophett, Co-pilot: Berni Gallagher, Navigator: Ron Watters, Bombardier: Russell Wahl, Waist gunner: Rich Conklin, Waist gunner: Jack Allen (6 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Henry Gristak, Radio Operator: Bernie Oster, Ball turret gunner: John Gott,Tail gunner: Ollie Shanholtz (4 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Hvidkilde, E of Svendborg, Den.; Missing Air Crew Report 2021. THE DULL TOOL.

Delivered Denver 29/8/43; Assigned 418BS/100BG [LD-Y] Thorpe Abbotts 28/9/43; Missing in Action Rostock 20/2/44 with Reg Smith, Co-pilot: Orlin Markussen, Navigator: Gerald Scott, Bombardier: Ernie Cribbs, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Tom Egan, Ball turret gunner: Ed Dyblie, Waist gunner: Ed Britko, Waist gunner: Bob Dunbar,Tail gunner: Mike Udick (9 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Ira Evans (evaded capture); flak hit #2, then attacked by FW 190s, crashed Harsley Mark, four miles S of Bogense, on Funen Is, Den. Missing Air Crew Report 2426. AIN’T MISS BEHAVIN’.

Delivered Denver 10/1/44; Gr Island 28/1/44; Assigned 350BS/100BG [LN-W] Thorpe Abbotts 2/3/44; Missing in Action Berlin 19/5/44 with Martin Rupert, Co-pilot: John Raring, Navigator: Greek James, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Herb Cole, Radio Operator: Ralph Hawk, Ball turret gunner: Cecil McNeer, Waist gunner: Chas Haswell, Waist gunner: Tom Hick,Tail gunner: Bill Hohman (9 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Lynn Barbour (Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft KO’d two engines, ditched off Rodynhavn, Den, the injured survivor rescued by Danish fishing boat; Missing Air Crew Report 4947.

Delivered Cheyenne 17/1/44; Billings 20/1/44; Amarillo 4/2/44; MacDill 4/2/44; Morrison 9/3/44; slated 96BG, but Assigned 840BS/483BG Tortorella 14/3/44; transferred 20BS/2BG Amendola 31/3/44; Missing in Action Moravska Ostrova, Czech. 2/8/44 with Jim Weiler, Navigator: Bob Embry, Bombardier: Frank Sulkey, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lonnie Bumgardner, Radio Operator: John Martin, Ball turret gunner: Ernie Wagoner, Waist gunner: John Adair, Waist gunner: Loren Byam,Tail gunner: George Dalcanale (9 Killed in Action); (cp-Irving Thompson (POW – recorded as wia in hospital, but no further details); enemy aircraft, crashed Wiseham; Missing Air Crew Report 8098. QUEEN.

Delivered Cheyenne 29/9/43; Harvard 14/10/43; Assigned 388BG Gt Ashfield 18/11/43; transferred 711BS/447BG [IR-E] Rattlesden 1/44; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 13/4/44 with Harry Kruezer, Co-pilot: Larry Koenig, Navigator: Bert Lynn, Bombardier: Clyde Collins, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Rossi, Radio Operator: Bob Tompkins, Ball turret gunner: Bob Gordon, Waist gunner: Earl Berry, Waist gunner: Tony Shidek,Tail gunner: Frank Lanman (10INT); flak KOd #3, crew bailed, ship shot down by Swiss fighters, crashed Siebnen on Lake Obersee, Switz. Missing Air Crew Report 4295. OLD CROW.

Delivered Cheyenne 12/1/44; Gr Island 21/1/44; Assigned 550BS/385BG [SG-K] Gt Ashfield 9/2/44; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 13/4/44 with Don Jorgensen, Co-pilot: Don Sellar, Navigator: Lester Kravitz, Bombardier: Harry Burby, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Benedict Janczak, Radio Operator: Dick Burtle, Ball turret gunner: Roger Hutchinson, Waist gunner: John Fox, Waist gunner: Dale Ellington,Tail gunner: John Rosema (10INT); flak damage plus more damage from Swiss AA at the border, force landed Dubendorf, Switz. Missing Air Crew Report 3772.