B-17 'Kismet'

[Cindy]

Does anyone have wartime photos or information on a B-17 called 'Kismet'? I have a dear friend, Wilbur Richardson, who was a ball turret gunner on her for 30 missions. She was lost within a mission or two of him leaving the crew due to a shot of flak in the hip. He has many photos, but I've had no luck finding anything on the web about this plane.
Any photos or information would be appreciated. I'd like to give them to Wilbur to include in his books.
An couple of interesting bits of trivia about the original crew....7 crew members are still living! The other interesting part of the story.....on the mission the plane was lost, two crews were assigned to the plane. This was resolved by selecting 1/2 the crew members from the original crew and 1/2 the crew members from the second crew. One of the members replaced was the pilot. The question has been raised by several crew members whether the plane would have made it back from that mission if the original pilot had flown her?!?!?!!
Anyway, I'd love to provide him additional photos/info if anyone has anything they'd like to share.
Thanks!
Cindy

[Former Member]

Deleted

Last edited by Former Member on Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Cindy]

the plane was part of the 94th
don't know the pilot off hand but can find out
I know the plane flew two missions over Normandie on D-day

Cindy

[Jack Cook]

B-17G-55-BO 331st BS 94th BG 8th AF
I have 2 dates lost Aug 13, 1944 and a date of July6, 1944 showing salvage due to battle damage. The 2 pilots were Capt Moser and Lt Griffit.

[gtokid]

Just to add to the info Jack posted:

S/N 42-102605

MACR 8362 from Aug. 13, 1944


Todd

[bipe215]

This from Freeman and Osborne:

Del Cheyenne 18/3/44; Hunter 14/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; ass 331BS
94BG (QE-X); Rougham 1/5/44;MIA battle support area, France 13/8/44 with Griffith; flak, crashed St Andre, France; 2 EVD, 1KIA, 6 POW.

Steve G