42-38002

media-37630.jpeg UPL 37630 B-17 42-38002 IV-Q, 614BS, 401BG, 8AF having been belly landed on a potato field by the tail gunner S/Sgt Richard Schmidt.

Object Number - UPL 37630 - B-17 42-38002 IV-Q, 614BS, 401BG, 8AF having been belly landed on a potato field by the tail gunner S/Sgt Richard Schmidt.

Delivered Denver 9/11/43; Grenier 4/12/43; Assigned 614BS/401BG [IW-Q] Deenethorpe 21/1/44; Missing in Action Oschersleben 22/2/44 with Vernon Arneson, Co-pilot: Jerome Kleinburg, Navigator: John Dean, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clennie Shultz, Radio Operator: Fred Webb, Ball turret gunner: Armond Provender, Waist gunner: Dave Trambitsky,Tail gunner: Rich Schmidt when about to bale out found his chute was damaged, (8 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: George Gilmore baled out too low, Waist gunner: Adrian Shutes (2 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, Schmidt found rest of crew had bailed so he went back to take controls and crash landed in potato field near Alvesse village 13 miles NW of Brunswick, Ger. MACR 2661.



MACR notes - A/C left formation prior to target after being hit by flak, then attacked by enemy fighters, but rejoined later formation in #4 position having been aided by 'little friends', before peeling of for home, 1 x engine out, when it was set upon again by enemy fighters, this was the point the crew baled out, all bar LW Sgt Shutes [dead in radio room] and TG Schmidt, whose parachute was riddled and U/S. Schmidt fought off the enemy from the waist position, downing a Me110 and damaging both a Ju88 and a Me109. Now with A/C too low to ground for any escape, Schmidt took what remained of the controls and managed to belly land onto a potato field at Alvesse, amazingly surviving all the odds.

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19083977 / O-741875
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12131384 / O-809557
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-682107
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-678877
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11083958
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Denver AAF, CO 9 November 1943 Delivered Denver AAF 9-Nov-43.

Assigned

Deenethorpe, UK 21 January 1944 Assigned 614BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Alvesse, Germany 22 February 1944 - 22 February 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Oschersleben 22-Feb-44; Hit by flak and then fighters, crew baled out, TG fought of fighters from waist position and then belly landed A/C Alvesse, Germany. 8 x POW, 2 x KIA. MACR 2661

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA Built at Douglas.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2661 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-38002: Gallery (5 items)