43-38542
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. As per "SORTIE REPORT #8946" CREW: Navigator: 2nd Lt. Murray Silverman (KIA) Togglier: SSGT Floyd Decker (KIA) 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
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.
1st Lt. Warren Fleshman (Seriously Wounded)
Co-pilot: 2nd Lt. John Laney (Seriously Wounded)
Radio Operator: TSGT Bill Richardson (Seriously Wounded)
Flight engineer/Top Turret Gunner: TSGT Walt Woodruff (Seriously Wounded)
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32728625
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20605592 / O-768095
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32931629
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
Missions
Revisions
The Pilot's name was FLESHMAN not Freshman. The Tail Gunner was Anthony Galetto and the Waist Gunner was Fred Baumann (they were reversed).
My grandfather was Anthony J. Galetto.
I've reached out to the 384th BG page Admin, asking permission to use documents including Official, Witness, Crew statement reports and photo's of the crash they have on their site.
Here are some of their links; https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/One384thAircraft.php?AircraftKey=43-38542
https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/SortieReport.php?SortieKey=8946
AAIR 44-11-30-510 / AAIR 45-01-20527 / Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database