John James Plotz

Military
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission. media-457002.jpg FRE 9709 A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group, 546TH Bomb Squadron falls towards the ground after having its tail shorn off by falling bombs during a mission to Berlin, Ball turret gunner and waist gunner were able to bail out at 5,000 feet, 9 March 1944. MACR 3005. 42-37781. Roger Freeman Collection

Just a bit more info

Object Number - FRE 9709 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group, 546TH Bomb Squadron falls towards the ground after having its tail shorn off by falling bombs during...

Bombs from the 'High Group' knocked the tail section off B-17G #42-37781 'Silver Dollar' and crashed near Osdorf on a mission to Berlin on 9 Mar 1944. Prisoner of War (POW). Missing Air crew Report #3005.



POW

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-669278
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39830126
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-671434
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39176552
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19080173
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

Nose section of an airplane that has a plexiglass bubble on the front.  On the side is a painting of a coin with the words "Silver Dollar" painted around the coin.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Dollar
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Lincoln, Illinois 6 May 1914

Died

14 September 2002

Revisions

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ContributorWatspoon
Changes
Sources

I made a mistake in the last edit

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ContributorWatspoon
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Added a bit more info including death

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Contributorbombercommand
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Sources

2016-07-04,Information from duplicate record https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/124693 was moved to this file.

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Contributorbombercommand
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384thbombgroup.com

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Contributorbombercommand
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384thbombgroup.com

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3005, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…

John James Plotz: Gallery (3 items)