41-24447 Kickapoo
Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-H] Bangor 29-Aug-42; Bassingbourn 1-Oct-42; Missing in Action {11m} Wilhelmshafen 26-Feb-43. Flak hit caused fire in #4, crashed North Sea. 10 Killed in Action, Missing Air Crew Report 4830. KICKAPOO. Ten crewmen Killed in Action an Missing 26 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24447 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron while on a mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. O-728163 Ralston E Bixler 2L NJ Navigator O-727619 Cassius Brandenburg 2L LA Bombardier 15098471 Robert A De Barbrie SS OH Waist Gunner 12059493 Herbert E Fisher SS NY Tail Gunner 14080617 Everett Gause TS FL Radio Operator/Gunner 39165252 Walter E Gilroy TS CA Top Turret Gunner O-662777 Harry O Green 1L TX Co-pilot 16035783 Gregg Nesemeier SS IL Waist Gunner 16047423 Arthur A Sullivan SS WI Ball Turret Gunner O-431064 John T Swais Cp TX Pilot
The aircraft was hit by German flak which set engine four afire and caused them to crash into the North Sea approximately 80 miles northwest of Wilhelmshaven. MACR 4830.
Connections
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Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728163
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-727619
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15098471
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12059493
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14080617
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
Places

- Site type: Airfield
Missions

- Date: 26 February 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
North Sea | 26 February 1943 | Last seen 20 miles north of Norderney Island with #4 engine smoking. Crashed into the sea with the loss of all crew. |
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 31-May-2015. Corrected typos in FTR event.
Lee Cunningham 8-May-2015. Added nickname, markings, Radio Call Sign, loss note on FTR event; edited Description to change dates to militray-style notation; added crew position, rank and full prorper name and formatted crew display per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey, MBE. Also reference MACR 3575.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3575 / MACR 4830 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database