B-17 Flying Fortress
42-37866
B-17 42-37866, of the 447th BG, landing Discovered by Michael Annicaert of Belgium, these photographs were in a collection owned by S/Sgt. Berton E. Swift of the 708th BS.
Delivered Denver 25/9/43;Harvard 17/10/43; Assigned 708BS/447BG [CQ-D] Rattlesden 19/11/43; Missing in Action Berlin 29/4/44 with Warren Donahue, Co-pilot: Melvin McArdie, Navigator: Hugh Simms, Bombardier: Bill Gaillard, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Don Sage, Radio Operator: Carroll Elwell, Waist gunner: Ken Olson, Waist gunner: Norbert Arvin (8 Prisoner of War); Ball turret gunner: Bill Lockman,Tail gunner: Joe Pennock (2KIA-both died when aircraft exploded); enemy aircraft severe damage tail and set aircraft on fire, crashed Abbenrode, nine miles E b Brunswick, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 4250
Group
The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces...
Squadron
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 447th Bomb Group
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #4237866. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 447th Bomb Group
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #4237866. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 447th Bomb Group
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #42-37866, Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #4237866. Killed in Action (KIA).
PH
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 447th Bomb Group
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 42-37866. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
B-17G #42-31227 'Dottie Jane' was hit by flak on a mission to Klein Machnow, Berlin on 6 Mar 1944 but was able to return to base. RTD. Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #4237866. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #4237866. Killed in Action (KIA).
PH
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #42-37866, Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 447th Bomb Group
Shot down 29 April 1944 in B-17 #4237866. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military site : airfield
Built for the Eighth Air Force in 1942, Rattlesden had three concrete runways, 50 hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. Intended to be a twin-engine B-26 bomber base, it was originally a satellite for nearby Rougham, and first occupied from...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Germany | 29 April 1944 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 27 September 2014 18:40:46 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4250 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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