43-38000

B-17G 42-38000 was delivered Cheyenne 14-Jun-44; Kearney 28-Jun-44; Dow Fd 9-Jul-44; Assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-E] Bassingbourn 23-Jul-44. Sustained damage on 16-Aug-44 from attacks by German fighters on the apporach to the target of the aircraft factories as Halle, Germany. The gasoline tanks in the starboard wing were set afire and the fire dentonated the bomb load causing the aircraft to disintergrate. The remains of the aircraft came down at Lehna, Germany, six miles NE of Eschwege, Germany. Somehow the tail gunner managed to bale out of the aircraft and was captured. 8KIA 1POW MACR 8181.



P 2Lt Reese W. Lindsay, Jr. (KIA); CP 2Lt Albert J. Perry (KIA)

N 2Lt Claton B. Baugh (KIA); B 2Lt Lee G. Bratche (KIA)

E/TTG SGT John C Crabb (KIA); RO Sgt Robert L. Schrecengost (KIA)

BTG Sgt John V, Buxton, WG Sgt Cleo H. Gates (KIA)

TG Sgt Lewis C. Morgan (POW)

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Clayton Benjamin Baugh

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-722981
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Lee Green Bratcher

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18064043 / O-671266
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

John Vernon Buxton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14057695
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

John Cleveland Crabb

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38404787
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Cleo Homer Gates

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37525622
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

14 June 1944 Delivered Cheyenne AAF 14-Jun-44.

Assigned

23 July 1944 Assigned 324BS, 91BG [DF-E] Bassingbourn 23-Jul-44

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

16 August 1944 Attacked by German aircraft igniting the gasoline tanks between #3 and #4 engines. The fire detonated the bomb load and the aircraft disintegrated. By some miracle the tail gunner managed to bale out of the wreckage and was captured. Remains of aircraft came down two miles north of Lehna, Heiligenstadt, Germany

Manufactured

Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
ContributorTallPaul19
Changes
Sources

Removed incorrect photo reference 

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/43-38800-busy-buzzard/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Dec-2014. Corrected typos.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Dec-2014. Converted date in description to military-style sgnification, added loss details to description an Markings per "Losses of the 9th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; added FTR event per MACR 8181; Added crew position, rank, full proper name and disposition per MACR 8181; formatted crew display.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 8181 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database