| Serial Number: | 42-30046 |
| Name: | MERRIE HELL |
| Manufacturer: | Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17F-85-BO, Camouflage |
| Squadron: | 546th Bombardment Squadron (H) |
| Squadron ID Code: |
546th‑BK*H (through 1943-07-29) 544th‑SU*K (through 1943-08-12) |
| Ground Crew Chief: | Kishel, Stanley John |
| Start Date: | 24 May 1943. Original AC. |
| Missions: | This aircraft was credited with 9 combat missions with the 384th. |
| End Date: | 12 August 1943. Failed to return from combat operations. |
| Related Documents: | Missing Air Crew Report # 289⇓ (3.941 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Aircraft 42-30046 Photo Album⇗ |
| History: | 42-30046 Delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming for modification on 3 April 1943; Sioux City, Iowa on 14 April 1943; Kearney, Nebraska on 4 May 1943; Bangor, Maine on 20 May 1943. Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron, squadron code BK-K, 384th Bombardment Group, station 106, Grafton Underwood, UK on 24 May 1943. The aircraft and crew failed to return from a mission to Recklinghausen, Germany on 12 August 1943 with pilot-Ernest J. Sierens {body never found}, copilot-Joel M. Acker, navigator-Spiridon J. Scoursi, bombardier-Allan M. Blossman, engineer/top turret gunner-Melvin Henry Johnson, ball turret gunner-George A. Hunt, waist gunner-Van G. Jones, waist gunner-Melvin E. Hansen (8 Killed in Action);. The radio operator-Harry K. Kettermann and tail gunner-Louis D. Brindley were captured and became Prisoners of War (2 POW). Witness reports state that flak blew off the nose of the aircraft. The aircraft crashed at Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Missing Air crew Report (MACR) #289. Aircraft Name: MERRIE HELL. |
| Bits & Pieces: |
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| Number | Date | Target | Results | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1⇗ | 22 June 1943 | Target: General Motors Truck Factory Type: Industry Location: Antwerp, Belgium | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 23 June 1943 | Bernay-Saint-Martin, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 2⇗ | 25 June 1943 | Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Returned to base due to weather conditions; pilot was unable to maintain contact with the formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 3⇗ | 26 June 1943 | Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Spare, Completed Mission | Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 4⇗ | 28 June 1943 | Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 5⇗ | 29 June 1943 | Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off | Replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 42‑30040. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 6⇗ | 4 July 1943 | Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France | Completed Mission | High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 9 July 1943 | Abbeville, France, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 7⇗ | 10 July 1943 | Target: Drucat Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Abbeville, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 8⇗ | 14 July 1943 | Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 10⇗ | 25 July 1943 | Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard Type: Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany | Completed Mission | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| -- | 26 July 1943 | Hamburg, Germany, RECALLED | Mission Recalled | Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 11⇗ | 28 July 1943 | Target: Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany | Aborted Mission After Taking Off. | Turned back when #2 supercharger failed. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 12⇗ | 29 July 1943 | Target: Naval Base Type: Military Location: Kiel, Germany | Completed Mission | High Squadron lead, wing deputy. Sortie Report ⇗ |
| 14⇗ | 12 August 1943 | Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany | Failed To Return | Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑5849. High Squadron deputy. Damaged by flak; crashed near Gelsenkirchen, Germany. MACR 289 Sortie Report ⇗ |