"Cut and slashed by flak, this tail section of a Boeing B-17 Flying fortress separated from the rest of the bomber when the pilot brought his damaged plane in for a crash landing." B-17 42-107091 'Forbidden Fruit'. - The tail gunner S/Sgt John R Tinker was dead, killed instantly by the flak hit. Capt Edward M Skurka the pilot landed at Rattlesden without rudder control, or brakes and with damaged ailerons and due to the extended landing run colided with a crash truck killing one of the crew of the truck. 8-May-44.