42-31612
CREW: Lt. William H. Ritzema (POW), Lt. Paul D. Straw (POW), Lt. Robert V. Shuss (POW), Lt. Lorin A. Wolfe (POW), S/Sgt/ Richard H. Stewart (POW), Sgt. Frank De Marco (KIA), Sgt. John H. Zundel (POW), Sgt. Octavio A. Duran (POW), Sgt. William H. Leach (POW), Sgt. Donald C. Pearson).
With permission of the Stadtarchive of Übach-Palenberg/Jürgen Klosa.
From the German Magazine ‘Fliegerblatt’ edition 6 in 2018 (page 140)
it shows that this picture was made by Mr Heinz Ruland. At the time of the crash he was 14 years old.
wim slangen
Object Number - UPL 23188 - People gather around B-17 (TU-B/42-31612). The aircraft was shot down by flak on February 22nd 1944 on its way back from Aschersleben (Junkers...
Delivered Mid Continental Airways Modification Center, Denver 28/11/43; Kearney 17/12/43; Syracuse 2/1/44; Presque Is 4/1/44;
Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-B] Polebrook 30/1/44;
Missing in Action 8m Oschersleben 22/2/44
Crew as follows. Pilot: Bill Ritzema, Co-pilot: Paul Straw, Navigator: Bob Shuss (Wounded in Action), Bombardier: Lorin Wolfe (Wounded in Action), Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Rich Stewart, Ball turret gunner: Bill Leach, Waist gunner: John Zundel (Wounded in Action - lost leg), Waist gunner: Octavio Duran, Tail gunner: Don Pearson (9 Prisoner of War);
Radio Operator: Frank DeMarco (Killed in Action);
Severe flak damage, bellied on Gut Muthagen near Gelsenkirchen-Aachen Road (L164), near Uebach-Palenberg, nine miles north of Aachen, Germany; Missing Air Crew Report 2657.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32539248
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19067413
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37225713
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19063545
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36159440 / O-803734
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
Delivered Mid Continental Airways Modification Center, Denver, CO | 28 November 1943 | Delivered Mid Continental Airways Modification Center, Denver 28-Nov-43. |
|
Assigned |
Polebrook, UK | 30 January 1944 | Assigned to 510BS, 351BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Crashed |
Git Muthagen near 52531 Übach-Palenberg, Germany | 22 February 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Oschersleben with Ritzema crew; flak damaged, belly landing 9 x POW, 1 x KIA MACR 2657 |
|
Manufactured |
Inglewood, CA | Built at Boeing. |
Revisions
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Addition of word "Pilot" in reference to Bill Ritzema, for clarity, for the crew description.
Removed the names of Lieutenants John Jonaitis and David Van De Walle from the crew list.
Missing Air Crew Report 2657 does not list them as part of the crew for this aircraft on 22 February 1944.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2657 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
