| Serial Number: | 42-3041 |
| Name: | Not Known |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Douglas Aircraft Company, B-17F-20-DL, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 544th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: | 544th‑SU*H |
| Start Date: | 22 August 1943. Transferred: Received from the 306th BG.. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 1 combat mission with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 6 September 1943. Failed to return from combat operations: Believed to have been forced down due to fuel exhaustion east of Metz, France. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 773⇓ (14.589 MB) |
| Photo Album: | No Photo Album For This Aircraft |
| History: | 42-3041 Delivered to Denver, Colorado [for modification] on 23 January 1943. Moved to Homestead, Florida on 25 February 1943. Assigned to the 303rd Bombardment Group at Molesworth, Station 107, UK on 9 April 1943. Transferred to the 369th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code WW-U, 306th Bombardment Group at Thurleigh, Station 111, UK. Transferred to the 544th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code SU-H, 384th Bombardment Group at Grafton Underwood, Station 106, UK. Missing In Action on a mission to Stuttgart on 6 September 1943 with Pilot James J. McMahon, Copilot Rudolph J. Froschle, Navigator Lesta A. Shackleford, Bombardier Arthur R. Dinndorf, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Robert F. Stalhut, Radio Operator Marcus E. Carr, Ball Turret Gunner John H. Tripp, Waist Gunner James E. Savage, Waist Gunner Schley H. Jessup, 9 POW; Tail Gunner George J. Kemp Evaded (EVD). The aircraft lost two engines from flak damage and the crew bailed out when the ship ran out of gas and crashed at Dorviller/Elvange, 15 miles East of Metz, France. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 773. |
| Research Notes: | 2015-12-31 RFP. Crash location appears to be between Dorviller & Elvange, France (German names during WWII: DORWEILER and ELWINGEN) based on german documents in the MACR file. |
| (more...) | |
| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | 30 August 1943 | Achiet-le-Grand, France, RECALLED | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑5720. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 20⇗ | 3 September 1943 | Target: Air Park and Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 21⇗ | 6 September 1943 | Type: Industry Location: Stuttgart, Germany | Failed To Return | Out of fuel; crashed near Metz, France. Sortie Report ⇗ |