Delivered Cheyenne 16/8/44; Lincoln 24/8/44; Grenier 10/9/44; Assigned 547BS/384BG [SO-J] Grafton Underwood 23/9/44; returning from mission in Mannheim Germany (Target: Rail and Road Bridges), a heavy snow storm forced nearly all aircraft in the formation to land elsewhere. Pilot, LT Fleshman determined it would be best to return South East to Molesworth Airfield, AAF Station 107. 

LT Fleshman was flying at 2000 ft at approx 125/130mph. Conditions: Very Heavy Snow Storm. Visibility was between 200-400 yards. Ceiling was approximately 200 ft at 10/10ths. Wind west at 15mph.

Engines #3&4 had been acting up and the props were throwing a considerable amount of ice. The  leading edge of aircraft iced up, including the windows, weighing her down.  Engine #3 & 4 eventually failed while trying to line up with runaway #27. The aircraft began significantly dropping altitude. LT Fleshman realizing a crash was unavoidable, pulled the nose up to slow the aircraft down, while Co-pilot 2nd LT Laney yelled for the crew to assume crash positions.

At approximately 1525-1530hrs, 20/1/45, the aircraft crashed through the tops of trees before crashing nose down into the ground. At approximately 1540hours, Sgt Kray of the HF transmitter reported a B-17 crashed near him. Ambulance and crash tender were dispatched to the scene. At 1638hrs, the aircraft was identified and injured crew members were taken to the 303rd Hospital. It was noted, before the crash, the aircraft was never in radio contact with Molesworth Tower.   
 

As per "SORTIE REPORT #8946"

CREW: 
1st Lt. Warren Fleshman (Seriously Wounded) 
Co-pilot: 2nd Lt. John Laney (Seriously Wounded) 

Navigator: 2nd Lt. Murray Silverman (KIA)

Togglier: SSGT Floyd Decker (KIA)
Radio Operator: TSGT Bill Richardson (Seriously Wounded)
Flight engineer/Top Turret Gunner: TSGT Walt Woodruff (Seriously Wounded)

Ball Turret Gunner: SSGT Oreal Mitchell (Seriously Wounded)

Waist gunner: SSGT Fred Baumann (Seriously Wounded)

Tail gunner: SSGT Anthony Galetto (Seriously Wounded) 

(7 Wounded In Service); ,  (2 Killed in Service); W/O, Salvaged. 

Aircraft 43-38542: Complete destruction