42-39817 “Murderer's Row”
Delivered Long Beach 9/9/43; Assigned 394BS/100BG [XR-A] Thorpe Abbotts 27/9/43. Missing in Action Wilhelmshafen 3 March 1944 with Pilot Robert D. Vollmer, Navigator: Edward G. Sullivan, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: William S. Humphrey (substitute for regular E/TTG), Ball turret gunner: Don Guthrie, Left Waist gunner: Thomas H. Mullenix (5 Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: John W. Adams III, Bombardier: Ernest B. Clark, Radio Operator: Elias M. Johnson, Right Waist gunner: Donald W. Becker, Tail gunner: George W. Wood (5 Killed in Action).
According to Pilot Vollmer after the war, his B-17 was not involved in a mid-air collision with #42-31970 nor damaged by a mid-air collision between "ships 970 and 617", as surmised in the MACR. In fact, it was attacked by a swarm of FW110s, shot down, exploded and its debris fell in a radius of 3km near Hohenaspe, between Drage and Itzehoe (50km N of Hamburg), Germany. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 3029.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33445887
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34448589
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-809759
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-803318
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32759818
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
Missions
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 3 March 1944 | Shot down by fighters. Exploded and crashed. Debris scattered in a radius of 5km between Drage and Itzehoe (50km NE of Hamburg), Germany |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Description" to aid clarity & consistency.
Added the A/C nickname listed in the "Summary biography" of several crew.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3029 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database