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42-97983

B-17 Flying Fortress

  • Dutch civillians examine the damaged tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97983) that has crash landed near Hoorn. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Hoorn 7-7-44.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'Zwanenburg.'

    Dutch civillians examine the damaged tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97983) that has crash landed near Hoorn. First handwritten caption on reverse: 'Hoorn 7-7-44.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'Zwanenburg.'

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Delivered Dallas 23/4/44; Kearney 2/6/44; Grenier 17/6/44; Assigned 570BS/390BG [DI-Z] Framlingham 20/6/44; transferred 571BS [FC-Z]; Missing in Action Merseburg 7/7/44 with LaRue Cribbs, John Blickensderfer, Lester Glaser, Gene Gifford, Ball turret gunner: Merwyn Stanford (5 Killed in Action); Navigator: Bob Outman, Radio Operator: Art Coffey, Waist gunner: Joe Grove,Tail gunner: Clarry Brown (4 Prisoner of War); Waist gunner: Arthur Brown (evaded capture); prop-wash caused mid air coll with 42-107070 (390BG) and both exploded and crashed Hoorn, near Alkmaar, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 7367.

Some evidence that the aircraft was flying with the 570th Bomb Squadron rather than the 571st Bomb Squadron on 7 July 1944. MACR 7367 records the aircraft and crew as part of 570th Bomb Squadron, as do the headstones for the airmen who died and are buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

Service

Aircraft

  • 42-107070 North Star

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 11/2/44; Gr Island 13/2/44; Grenier 4/3/44; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-A] Framlingham 17/3/44; (28m). ...

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Units

  • 390th Bomb Group

    390th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 390th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Framlingham, Suffolk, between July 1943 and the end of the war in Europe. The Group was engaged in strategic missions until the invasion of Europe when its role became more of a tactical one. This...

  • 570th Bomb Squadron

    570th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

  • 571st Bomb Squadron

    571st Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • John Blickensderfer

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 390th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) Mid air collision and crashed at Hoorn in B-17 #4297983

  • Arthur Brown

    Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
    Evaded (EVD) Had mid air collision and crashed at Hoorn in B-17 #4297983

  • Clarence Brown

    Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
    Prisoner of War (POW) Mid air collision and crashed at Hoorn on 7/7/44 in B-17 #4297983

  • Gerard Casius

    Civilian

  • Arthur Coffey

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 390th Bomb Group
    Prisoner of War (POW) Had mid air collision and crashed at Hoorn on 7/7/44 in B-17 #4297983

  • LaRue Cribbs

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 390th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) Mid air collision and crashed at Hoorn in B-17 #4297983

  • Eugene Gifford

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) Mid air collision and crashed at Hoorn in B-17 #4297983

  • Lester Glaser

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 390th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) Mid air collison and crashed at Hoorn in B-17 #4297983

  • Joseph Grove

    Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 390th Bomb Group
    Prisoner of War (POW) Had mid air collision and crashed at Hoorn in B-17 #4297983 on 7/7/44

  • Robert Outman

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 390th Bomb Group
    Had mid air collision and crashed at Hoorn on 7/7/44 in B-17 #42-97983, Prisoner of War (POW).

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Places

  • Framlingham

    Military site : airfield
    Built for the Eighth Air Force from 1942 to 43, Framlingham was home first to the 95th Bomb Group, before that unit moved to RAF Alconbury. From 1943 to 1945, it was operated by the 390th Bomb Group. The airfield was handed back to the RAF in 1945, and...

Events

Event Location Date
Failed to Return (FTR) Netherlands 7 July 1944
Nicknames
Not yet known
Production block number
B-17G-40-VE Fortress
Manufacturer
Lockheed
Markings and paint scheme/livery

Lockheed Modification Center Love Field, Dallas Tx "P" number and sequence number show from behind the radio call letter.

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
10 April 2019 22:29:16 phil marchese Changes to markings
Sources

AAM image
FLYING FORTRESS 1936 1945
Date Contributor Update
15 September 2017 11:09:39 Lucy May Changes to description and events
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/1/28720288
https://abmc.gov/node/533033#.WbuwTU2WyM8
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-97983/
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:41:17 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 7367 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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