43-38178 Seattle Sue
Original caption: A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Seattle Sue" at an 8th Air Force base in England on 17 September 1944. National Archives and Records Administration
Object Number - UPL 23760 - Airmen of the 379th Bomb Group stand in front of B-17 43-38178 "Seattle Sue" at Kimbolton. Original caption: A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses...
Delivered Cheyenne 4/7/44; Kearney 13/7/44; Dow Fd 20/7/44.
Assigned 525BS/379BG [FR-P] Kimbolton 14/8/44.
Battle damaged Pilsen 25/4/45 after mid air collision with 43-38272 (379BG).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 388th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Thumper
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
Pilsen, CZ | 25 April 1945 - 25 April 1945 |
Revisions
Information provided by Norman Cooler's nephew, Wes:
'Like many sources, your site has the crews of these two aircraft confused, most likely due to the fact that 1) they had a mid air collision and 2) the MACR on the two aircraft have the serial number transposed.'
'On mission 300 of the 8th Air Force, her last mission, Seattle Sue was piloted by Claire Evans. My Uncle, Norman Cooler, was the Flight Engineer no top turret gunner on that aircraft. I have a photo from the National Archives that clearly shows both the name Seattle Sue and the serial number 43-38178. My uncle, Norman Cooler, and Abe Teller both parachuted from the aircraft and survived. All other crew members perished when the aircraft crashed just past the target area southwest of Pilsen, CZ. I have been to the crash site and have photos of the wreckage taken just after the crash. I also have a photo of my uncle after his capture by the Luftwaffe.'
'The only crew member of Thumper to die was the tail gunner, Bill Mielke who was last seen in the wreckage in the tail of the aircraft. All other crew members parachuted from the crippled plane over allied territory and survived. '
Based on personal research, including photos of Seattle Sue, the MACR, a personal visit to the crash site, and personal papers of SGT Norman B. Cooler.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 14319 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
