Boehling flew on 1st mission to Ingolstadt on B-17 38356, "Quivering Queenie" aka "Slienthe Je Vahr". Pilot Frank B. Bell had 0 missions as did rest of 9-man crew on 1st mission except 2nd/Lt George Pringle with 29 missions as co-pilot. This was the last combat mission from D.G. base.



Flying into cloud bank on instruments, nose went up and B-17 stalled, falling to left. Spinning then leveling before diving again, Boehling spoke to the toggelier in nose with him to jump. He exited out the front nose hatch and parachuted to safety. Boehling bailed at 25,000'. Rest of crew perished. Plane broke in half before hitting ground. Some onlookers said it exploded mid-air, others said it was hit by lightning. Crashed near Landau, occupied Germany. James made it back to Deopham Green, Norfolk, England, in three days. Boehling flew two POW rescue missions.