Below B-17G 42-107091 (MSN 22006) Douglas Aircraft- Company, Modification Center, Air Force Plant #3, Tulsa Municipal Airport, OK 17Feb44. 1377th Base Unit (North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command), Grenier Field (Station 16), Manchester, NH 7Mar44. 728th Bomb Squadron [D], 452nd Bomb Group, Deopham Green (Station 142), Norfolk 12Mar44. Named "Forbidden Fruit". {first combat mission 10Apr44}. Seriously battle damaged on a Crossbow mission to a German V-weapon site at La Glacerie, France 8May44 (1KIA). The plane was struck by flak over Belgium which peppered the tail section, destroyed the fabric surface of the lower rudder and right elevator. The tail gunner had been killed instantly by the first flak burst. The bomber lost all rudder control, most of the aileron function and all hydraulic pressure (with resultant lack of brakes). Shrapnel also badly damaged the bomb-bay, prematurely releasing the bombs. The oxygen system had been rendered inoperable, and flak had punctured much of the radio room. The pilot force landed at Rattlesden (Station 126), Suffolk; he would have preferred a crash landing but feared a fire or explosion from all the fuel that was leaking. As it was, as soon as the aircraft touched down it began skidding, ran on into a meadow, colliding with a crash truck and killing its driver. The tail wheel collapsed and the tail-gunner's position broke off. {9 missions}. 1st Strategic Air Depot, Troston (Station 595), Suffolk. Regained by Group. Severely battle damaged on a mission to the railway marshalling yard at Hamm, Germany 16Feb45 (9RTD). Flak over Hamm, Münster and Osnabrück was meagre but accurate. Salvaged 17Feb45.
B-17 43-37563 'The Lady Be Good' after being shot down on mission to Hanau... January 5th, 1945.
B-17 43-37908 'Wolfel Bear' from the 486th BG 835th BS down at Jamoigne Belgium Dec 1944.
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