B-17G 42-97404

Aircraft Details

Serial Number:	42-97404
Name:	Not Known
Manufacturer:	Built by the Boeing Airplane Company, B-17G-45-BO, Natural Metal Finish
Squadron:	544th Bombardment Squadron (H)
Squadron ID Code:	544th‑SU*L
Start Date:	9 April 1944. New Replacement AC.
Missions:	This aircraft was credited with 7 combat missions with the 384th.
End Date:	13 May 1944. Failed to return from combat operations.
Comments:	Start Date is approximate.
Related Documents:	Missing Air Crew Report # 4813⇓ (49.016 MB)
Photo Album:	No Photo Album For This Aircraft
History:	42-97404 Del Cheyenne 26/2/44; Kearney 16/3/44; Grenier 26/3/44; Ass 544BS/384BG [SU-L] Grafton Underwood 27/3/44; MIA Stettin 13/5/44 w/Tom Francis (KIA); cp-Maurice Mahoney, n-Herb Polansky, b-Ray Bowkley, ettg-Allen Brannigan, ro-Otto Barnum, btg-Bill Fiory, wg-Joe Palladino, tg-Joe Petrillo, Wilbur Zordel (9POW); e/a set wings on fire, cr Drosedow, a mile NW of Loitz, nr Tutrow Afd, Ger; MACR 4813.
Bits & Pieces:	297404 384 544 SU L 28 02 44 AI 26 03 44 AOS 00 00 44 G 13 05 44 FTR GF CR Friedland, Germany - 2Lt Thomas R. Francis - 1 KIA, 9 POW - MACR 4813
Research Notes:	2021-02-11 rfp: InDate originally set to 26 March 1944 is actually the AOS date. Since the 6 April 544th aircraft inventory does not include this aircraft, I have added 14 days to the original InDate to reflect the above information and will consult with JE for further action.
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B-17G Aircraft 42-97404 Was Assigned To 9 Missions Manned by 384th BG Personnel,
Earning Combat Credit For 7 Of Them
Number	Date	Target	Results	Mission/Sortie Information
98⇗	29 April 1944	Target: Industrial District Type: Industry Location: Berlin, Germany	Ground Spare Aircraft, Unused
99⇗	1 May 1944	Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France	Completed Mission	High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report ⇗
100⇗	4 May 1944	Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany	Completed Mission	Sortie Report ⇗
101⇗	7 May 1944	Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany	Completed Mission	Sortie Report ⇗
102⇗	8 May 1944	Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station Type: Transportation Location: Berlin, Germany	Completed Mission	Sortie Report ⇗
--	10 May 1944	Ehrang, Germany, RECALLED	Mission Recalled	High Grp B Sortie Report ⇗
105⇗	11 May 1944	Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany	Completed Mission	41A Group. Jettisoned incendiaries. Sortie Report ⇗
106⇗	12 May 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany	Completed Mission	Sortie Report ⇗
107⇗	13 May 1944	Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory. Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Poznań, Poland	Failed To Return	Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑39888. While formation was under enemy aircraft attack, pulled out of formation to the left and was seen circling under control, with fires under inboard sections and both wings; five chutes emerged; crashed near Loitz, Germany. MACR 4813 Sortie Report ⇗