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42-29734

B-17 Flying Fortress

Delivered Denver 12/2/43; Walker 23/2/43; Smoky Hill 28/3/43; Presque 8/4/43; Assigned 337BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 22/4/43; Andrews Fd 13/5/43; Missing in Action Emden 21/5/43 with Capt Gil Stephenson, Co-pilot: Don Aulenbach, Navigator: Gene McGowen, Bombardier: Bob Groverwashed up Spiekeroog Is 6/7/43, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: George Harrington, Radio Operator: Harry McGillivray, Ball turret gunner: Don Manchester, Waist gunner: Joe Bartgis, Waist gunner: Don Seigling, Tail gunner: John Haught (10 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, damaged wing fell off as ship hit North Sea 70 miles off the Frisian Islands. Missing Air Crew Report 3685.

Service

Units

People

  • Donald Aulenbach

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
    Shot down 21 May 1943 in B-17 #42-29734, Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Joseph Bartgis

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
    Shot down 21 May 1943 in B-17 #4229734. Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Harold Gillivray

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 96th Bomb Group

  • Robert Grover

    Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 96th Bomb Group
    Shot down 21 May 1943 in B-17 #4229734. Killed in Action (KIA).

  • George Harrington

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 96th Bomb Group

  • Donald Manchester

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
    Shot down 21 May 1943 in B-17 #42-29734, Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Eugene McGowen

    Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 96th Bomb Group

  • Donald Seigling

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
    Shot down 21 May 1943 in B-17 #4229734. Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Gilbert Stephenson

    Military | Captain | Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
    Shot down 21 May 1943 in B-17 #4229734. Killed in Action (KIA).

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 60

    21 May 1943
    The German naval and port facilities at Wilhelmshaven and Emden, Germany are the two primary targets for this mission. Once again, there is a two-fold strategic objective: entice the Luftwaffe to commit its fighter forces; and further degrade the naval...

Places

  • Grafton Underwood

    Military site : airfield
    Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...

  • Snetterton

    Military site : non-airfield

  • Snetterton Heath

    Military site : airfield
    Intended to be an RAF bomber base, construction of Snetterton Heath started in Autumn 1942 but continued until mid-1943, because it was extended after allocation as an Eighth Air Force bomber base. It had eventually three concrete runways, 50...

  • Presque Isle Army Airfield

    Military site : airfield

Events

Event Location Date
Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) North Sea 21 May 1943
Nicknames
Not yet known
Production block number
B-17F-70-BO Fortress
Manufacturer
Boeing
Markings and paint scheme/livery

AW-

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
29 October 2020 22:21:08 jmoore43 Changes to description
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Date Contributor Update
29 May 2020 20:59:21 kstrykerAK Changes to markings, unit associations, place associations and mission associations
Sources

Snetterton Falcons II: The 96th Bomb Group in World War II by Robert E Doherty & Geoffrey D Ward. Second Edition with Errata and Supplemental Information. Taylor Publishing. 1996. page 22, 24, 293
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:40:23 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3685 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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