B-17 "Tinker Toy"

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:06 pm

I have been a big fan of "Combat Crew" by John Comer. He talks about a fairly famous ship called Tinker Toy, A B-17 that was "Jinxed'. On 10/8/44 a 20 mil came through the cockpit and killed the pilot. She met a horrible fate on 12/20/44 when a 109 collided with her waist and they spun in locked together.
Would anyone have any photos of her? Or further stories?

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2676

Do you belong to Footnote.com?

http://www.footnote.com/document/55664750/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18532986@N07/4851640230/

Regards,
Mike

TonyM · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:31 pm

The photo in the flicker link is the same photo that was published in Freeman's The Mighty Eighth.
The men are pointing to the hole made by the 20mm that decapitated the pilot.

TonyM.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:39 pm

I have a couple...........

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:50 pm

Mike, thanks for the footnote suggestion. Thanks Jack! Kinda figured you might have a few

SHAEF1944 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 27, 2010 12:15 am

My colorized version of the famous photo.

Movie : Her's to Hold (with Deanna Durbin) 1943
Plot- Joseph Cotten as AVG Flying Tiger pilot in love with a B-17 assembly worker. Shot at the Burbank Lockheed Vega B-17F line.

Future notorious 381 BG 'jinx' ship, "Tinker Toy", shows up in the background in some shots.

Tinker Toy, Lost 12-20-43 Crew Roster

2nd Lt. Lane, Dorman F. P
2nd Lt. Johnston, John B. CP
2nd Lt. Anderson, Everett S. N
2nd Lt. Mitchell, Richard M. B
S/Sgt. Peanoske, John TTG
S/Sgt. Melchiorre, Alphonso A. R
Sgt. Cramer, Henry Jr. BTG
S/Sgt. Fecho, Joseph RWG
Sgt. Hrapsky, William W. LWG
Sgt. McDonald, Frank H. TG

http://s217.photobucket.com/albums/cc31 ... edBySHAEF/

67N20 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:40 pm

"I have been a big fan of "Combat Crew" by John Comer."

One of my favorite WWII aviation books, I highly recommend it.

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 28, 2010 7:47 pm

I stumbled up the book at a Goodwill last year. I have reread it twice. The last 2 chapters really drive the combat experience home.

Ed Baker · **Joined:** Sat Dec 03, 2011 8:36 am **Posts:** 1

My Wife's Brother, Harold Harrington was BTG on Tinker Toy when the pilot LT Minnerich was decapated by a 20mm shell. The copilot Lt Sellers took over and completed the mission. LT sellers received the DSC for his action>

Cherrybomber13 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:24 pm

Ed, thanks for sharing. Any unpublished photos of Tinker Toy?

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B-17 "Tinker Toy"

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