B-17 Flying Fortress
A bomber crew of the 487th Bomb Group and their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-37933) nicknamed "Yankee Maid". Image via Roy K Snell. Snell has handwritten on the reverse: 'Our "Yankee Made" [sic] and the crew after about 30 missions. Squadron engineering officer in overseas cap.'
Delivered Cheyenne 6/6/44; Kearney 18/6/44; Grenier 1/7/44; Assigned 838BS/487BG Lavenham 2/7/44; Missing in Action Derben, Ger 14/1/45 with Harry Nyland, Bill Rhett, Ray Litka, John Claxton, Angelo Ovial, Saverio Costantino, Francis Wetzel, Ed Kolb (8 Prisoner of War); Frank Abbote (Killed in Action); mid air coll with 42-98013 (487BG); crashed Redefin, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 11732. YANKEE MAID.
Group
The 487th Bomb Group began operations as preparations for D-Day were reaching their crescendo and played their part by bombing airfields in northern France. Like the 486th Bomb Group, the 487th switched to B-17 Flying Fortress for missions from 1...
Squadron
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier, Special, Navigator | 487th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) 14 January 1945
PH
Military | Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 487th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed at Redefin on 1/12/45 in B-17 'Yankee Maid' #4337933
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 487th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed at Redefin on 12 Jan 1945 in B-17G #43-37933 'Yankee Maid
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 487th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed at Redefin on 12 Jan 1945 in B-17G #43-37933 'Yankee Maid'.
Military | Sergeant | Bombardier, Enlisted, Nose Gunner | 487th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed at Redefin on 1/14/45 in B-17G #43-37933 'Yankee Maid'.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 487th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed at Redefin on 1/12/45 in B-17G #43-37933 'Yankee Maid'.
Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 487th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed at Redefin on 12 Jan 1945 in B-17G #43-37933 'Yankee Maid'.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 487th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed at Redefin on 12 Jan 1945 in B-17G #43-37933 'Yankee Maid'.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 487th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed at Redefin on 1/12/45 in B-17G #43-37933 'Yankee Maid'.
Military site : airfield
Lavenham was built as a standard USAAF bomber airfield, with fifty hardstandings, T2 hangars and 2,000 and 1,400 feet runways. John Laing and Son Ltd. carried out the work in 1943, and the airfield opened in April 1944. The 487th Bomb Group occupied...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Germany | 14 January 1945 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 27 September 2014 18:41:25 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 11732 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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