Warbird Information Exchange

My father-in-law SSgt Edward Potocki died today. Ed was a flight engineer on B-17's with 815th BS 483rd BG. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being seriously wounded over Italy in 1944.

His two aircraft were B-17G 42-32023 "Flak Happy" exchanged with 416th BS 99th BG B-17F a/c 42-5418 Chief Wahoo 97th BG no Sqdn #. Assigned 20 Jan 43.Transfer
to 99 BG 14 Nov 43; flew 27 missions with 99 BG ; Transfer to 483rd BG 31 Mar 44. MIA Milan 30 Apr 44.... 815 Sq..damaged by flak.and attacked by fighters; two engines out,crashed near Vanette; Hilmer Landholt crew; Daniels; Kleiner; Bowles; Landwehr; Altgelt; Gatch; Conn; Davis ; Goddard.
Altgelt, Goddard evade to Switzerland ; Rest POW. (MACR 4612).

German shoot down report:

The diary of Stab/JG 77 for 28 April says this:

1328–1454 hours: 5 Bf109 of Stab JG77 scramble. Take-off order from Jafü. Gruppe and Stab directed to the BOLOGNA area. The order to land ensued since the hostiles came no further north.
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30.04.44 Uffz. Eberhard Lang: 3 2./JG 77 B-17 £ 30 km. S.W. Padua: 7.000 m. 11.57 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.141




A/C 42-32023 Flak Happy 483 BG 815 Sq Original a/c. Transfer to 99 BG
31 Mar 44. To US 19 Jun 47.

A/C 42-32023 Flak Happy transfer from 483 BG 31 MAr 44; flew 87 missions ; copilot Bentley from 483rd BG flew on the 5 apr 44 mission. Eadie and Wood WIA 23 Jun 44; Transfer to depot 5 Feb 45 ; To US 19 Jun 47.


This is from "The Flying Fortress Story" by Roger Freeman and David Osborne.

a/c 42-5418 Del Tulsa 3/2/42; West Palm Beach 9/1/43; ass 97th BG Biskra
20/1/43 ; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43 ; Pont-du-Fahs 1/8/43 ;Depienne 15/6/43 ; tran 99 BG 346BS/99BG Oudna 14/11/43 ; (27m/99) ; 815BS/483BG Tortorella
31/3/44 ; MIA Milan 30/4/44 ; w/Landholt ; flak & e/a ; cr Vanette ; 8POW.2 EVD to Switz. MACR 4612 ; CHIEF WAHOO.

A/C 42-32023 Del Cheyenne 14/1/44 ; Kansas City 1/2/44 ; McDill 5/2/44 ; Morrison 9/3/44 ; ass 815BS/483BG ; Tortorella 12/3/44 ;tran 416BS/99BG
31/3/44 (87m) ;Ret US 121 BU Bradley 6/6/45 ;4104 BU Rome 28/6/45 ;Chanute
12/10/45 ;4168 BU Sth Plains 17/12/45 ;4136 BU Tinker 8/12/46 ; 4104 BU Rome
31/12/45 ; Recl Comp 19/6/47 FLAK HAPPY

Wally Forman's "B-17 Nose Art Name Directory" lists Chief Wahoo as ;
a/c 42-5418 97 BG no Sq No photo
a/c 42-5418 99 BG 346 BS No photo
a/c 42-5418 483 BG 815 BS No photo

a/c 42-32023 99 BG 416 BS No Photo
Chief Wahoo Cartoon
a/c 42-32023 483 BG 815 BS No Photo



Ed also served the nation with NASA and Martin as well as GE ...


RIP

So sorry to hear of your loss O.D.. It is true we will never know a generation of such men again. May he rest in peace, & my condolences to you all.
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

Sorry about your loss, the men of this generation are leaving us very fast.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Sorry about your father-in-law. My Dad was a fellow 483rd/816th member.

Steve G

My condolences to your family, OD.

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http://aircrewbookreview.blogspot.com/

Thank you for posting that. Bless your F.I.L God Speed.

Hi Oscar,

I know he meant a lot to you, for the right reasons, and you cherished that connection, as we discussed before. At least you got to know him, and he you; and I know with your efforts he will not be forgotten.

My condolences to you and your family at this tough time.

Regards

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Gents

Any pics of Ed's aircraft would be appreciated. I'm flying to USA Sunday for his funeral back home to Oz Tuesday...

PS: Some pics of my Spitfire rebuild are on the way..