42-97683

media-19329.jpeg UPL 19329 Tail fin of B-17G 42-97683, recovered for the NMUSAF museum in 1996 by the USAF, from a farmers shed, where it formed part of a wall.

http://95thbg.org/j3migr/images/aircraft/42-97683%201%20michal%20mucha…

Object Number - UPL 19329 - Tail fin of B-17G 42-97683, recovered for the NMUSAF museum in 1996 by the USAF, from a farmers shed, where it formed part of a wall.

Delivered Denver 26/1/44; 1SAG Langley 7/3/44; Grenier 7/4/44; Assigned 334BS/95BG [BG-M] Horham 8/4/44; lead ship t/o from Poltava, Russia for shuttle mission to Italy (Op Frantic IV) target Szolnok Afd, Hungary18/9/44 with Capt Jim Miller, Co-pilot: Bill Manning, Radio Operator: Paul Landrum, Waist gunner: Lou Cimbola,Tail gunner: Bob Graff, Col Carl Truesdell [mission pilot, Lt George Prokopec radar nav (7 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Bill Steele, Xn-Lyle Dallman, Bombardier: John Bromberg, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Hatton (4 Prisoner of War); flak KO’d #4, but limped on to crash landed Foggia, Italy; Missing Air Crew Report 10201. 18m, sal & repaired then re-assigned to 301BG 15th AF in Italy; transferred 352BS/301BG Lucera 28/10/44; Missing in Action Ruhland 15/3/45 with Dale Thornton, Narracci, Tyler, Stefko, Rury, Taylor, Lake, Yovich, Marich (9 Prisoner of War); Sanchez (Killed in Action); Missing Air Crew Report 12824.

Connections

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Units served with

People

Paul F Landrum

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

William S Manning

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

James M Miller

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

George J Prokopec

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator, Radar

William Steele

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Sergeant George Mondale, Lieutenant Ernest Demaray, Sergeant John McCallum and Lieutenant Roger Soth of the 452nd Bomb Group with Russian personnel. Image via William C Gaither. Letter from Gaither enclosed with print: ‘These photographers were taken at Poltava, Russia on June 22 1944. On June 21st my group, the 452d and others flew from England to Poltava en route hitting oil refinery at Rhurland, Germany. That night after landing German dive bombers bombed the field destroying ninety or more B-17 airc

Poltava

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Eastern Command Headquarters (ESCOM)

Missions

545

  • Date: 12 August 1944
Eleven men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane. Five men standing to the rear and six men kneeling in front. Some of the men are wearing flying gear. There is also some gear lying in front of the men.

531

  • Date: 8 August 1944
A B-24 Liberator of the 492nd Bomb Group bombs a target near Hamburg. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAF- 492nd BG showing successful result on oil target near Hamburg, 6 Aug 1944.'

524

  • Date: 6 August 1944
B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th Bomb Group fly in formation.

514

  • Date: 4 August 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

18 September 1944 - 19 September 1944 Lead ship t/o from Poltava, Russia for shuttle mission to Italy (Op Frantic IV) target Szolnok Afd, Hungary 18/9/44. Flak KO’d #4, but limped on to crash landed Foggia, Italy; (7 x RTD, 4 x POW) Missing Air Crew Report MACR 10201. Pilot Lt James M Miller.

Crashed

15 March 1945 Missing in Action Ruhland 15/3/45. (9 x POW, 1 x KIA) Missing Air Crew Report MACR 12824. Pilot Lt Dale Thornton.

Other

Salvaged/Repaired

Salvaged, repaired then re-assigned to 301BG 15th AF in Italy.

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

https://95thbgdb.com/aircraft/252

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

AAM DB Entry.
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=42-97683

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 10201 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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