media-408700.jpg FRE 4041 Three airmen of the 337th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group inspect the battle damaged tail of their B-17 Flying Fortress (AW-O, serial number 42-38133) nicknamed "Reluctant Dragon". They are from left to right: Second Lieutenant John C. Flanyak, the bombardier, from Chicago, Illinois; Technical Sergeant Leon H. Sweatt, the top turret gunner and engineer, from Divine, Texas; and Second Lieutenant Jerry T. Musser, the pilot, from Coral Gables, Florida.

Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Appears to be AW-O, 238133. If AW - Prior 20/8/44. 8/5/44?'

Printed caption on reverse: '59804 A.C. - The three airmen who all alone brought the 8th Air Force Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Reluctant Dragon" home from a bombing attack on war plants in Berlin, after six of the crew bailed out and the remaining man was killed at his guns, survey the jagged remains of the left stabilizer shot off by Nazi cannon fire. At left is 2nd Lt. John C. Flemynk, 21, bombardier, of Chicago, who navigated the Fortress home; in center T/Sgt. Leon H. Sweatt, 24, top turret gunner and engineer, of Divine, Texas, who doubled as co-pilot; and at right, pilot, 2nd Lt. Jerry T. Musser, 25, of Coral Gables, Florida, who wrestled with the controls to right the plane after a 10,000 foot dive. England. U.S. Air Force Photo.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection