44-6115 Ice Col Katy

Object Number - UPL 25078 - 44-6115
Accepted: 3 May 1944 Landing accident (class 3): 30 November 1944 @ 1000 hrs (Mechanical failure / Pilot error) Landing accident (class 3): 7 January 1945 @ 1144 hrs (Pilot error) Assigned: 15 June 1945 - ATC / Ferry Division - (Bradley AAF)
Assigned: 10 May 1944 - Douglas Aircraft / Douglas Modification Center # 16 - (Tulsa Municipal)
Assigned: 20 May 1944 - 3rd AF / 302nd AAFBU (Staging Wing) - (Hunter AAF)
Assigned: 27 May 1944 - ATC / North Atlantic Wing - (Dow AAF)
Assigned: 29 May 1944 / 2 June 1944 - 8th AF / VIII Service Command / BAD 1 - (RAF Burtonwood)
Assigned: 10 June 1944 - Assigned: 8th AF / 1st BD / 1st CBW / 381st BG / 534th BS - (RAF Ridgewell)
( Triangle-L ) ( GD * Q / Ice Col’ Katy )
56 Combat missions
After 1 August 1944: ( Triangle-L ) Red diagonal strip on vertical stabilizer ( GD * Q / Ice Col’ Katy )
With 1Lt Robert Giese, Co-pilot: 2Lt Robert Marelius, Navigator: 2Lt 2Lt Robert Smith, Togg: Sgt Albert Imberg, Flight engineer: T/Sgt Richard Shereuse, Radio operator: T/Sgt Edward Esker, Ball turret: S/Sgt Robert Winter, Waist gunner: S/Sgt Clarence Page, Tail gunner: S/Sgt Virgil Masteletto
#2 engine failed at 8,000 feet on climb out for mission. Crew opted to return to base and take-off with another aircraft.
Pilot landed hard at RAF Ridgewell (runway 28), along with the heavy weight of a fully loaded ship caused the right main landing gear strut to shear collapsing the right gear on landing.
#3 & 4 engines, propellers, outboard right wing damaged.
9 RTD
AAF accident report: 45-11-30-511
8th AF mission (Zeitz, Germany)
With 1Lt Charles Houk, Co-pilot: 2Lt William T Mays III, Navigator: 2Lt George Ransom, Flight engineer: S/Sgt John M Hean, Radio Operator: S/Sgt Robert M Johnson
Crew was doing local training and on landing at RAF Ridgewell (runway 28), the pilot allowed the B-17 to stall 30 feet above the runway.
Left main landing gear collapsed.
#3 & 4 engine, propellers, outboard left wing damaged
5 RTD
AAF accident report: 45-1-7-509
8th AF mission: (Engine Slow Time)
Assigned: 19 June 1945 - ATSC / 4168th AAFBU (Oklahoma City ATSC) - (South Plains AAF)
Assigned: 29 November 1945 - RFC / Depot 41 - (Kingman AAF) - SOC.
Sold: 9 August 1946 - Martin Wunderlich Company, Jefferson City - Missouri
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation

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

- 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: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-750370
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-747417
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35148170
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14104725
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer
Places

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: RFC Sales & Storage Depot No. 41

- Site type: Airfield
Aircraft

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ice Col Katy
- Unit: 1st Air Division 1st Combat Bomb Wing 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
Revisions
from 8th AF records