Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:41 pm
Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:38 am
38-215 Various combat missions Alaskan theater; crashed returning from weather reconnaissance mission, Kiska, 18 July 1942.
38-216 Similar to above; aircraft shot down by Rufe over Kiska, 18 July 1942.
Tue Feb 18, 2014 7:58 am
Chris Brame wrote:38-215 Various combat missions Alaskan theater; crashed returning from weather reconnaissance mission, Kiska, 18 July 1942.
38-216 Similar to above; aircraft shot down by Rufe over Kiska, 18 July 1942.
Have the crash sites of these two been investigated for remnants of the aircraft?
Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:36 am
Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:34 am
Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:04 pm
Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:18 pm
CoastieJohn wrote:From the FWIW dept.....
Early this morning about 0130-ish I was watching the Military Channel's Dogfight series. One of the two dogfights featured in the show was a modified B-17. I didn't catch the first couple of minutes to get the exact story but extra guns were added to give it a total of 19. Some of the 50's were converted to duals and another gun was added to the top of the fuselage right in front of the cockpit where the pilots could see it and/or control it. I didn't catch the jest of the mission but this B-17 was by itself for some reason and 17 Japanese aircraft swarmed over it. The air battle lasted over 45 minutes and numerous Japanese planes were shot down. The B-17 was shot up pretty good and one aircrewman was killed. The B-17 safely landed back on an island in the Pacific. The pilot I believe was awarded the CMOH and the rest of the crew were awarded the Distinguished Service Crosses. They were supposed to be the highest awarded aircrew in WWII. If someone has anymore to add or correct the story please do.
Tue Feb 18, 2014 2:18 pm
Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:57 pm
Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:11 pm
Thu Feb 20, 2014 5:27 pm
Here is the correct information:
B-17B # 38-216 crashed at Ragged Top Mountain, about 19 miles west of Lovelock, Nevada on 6 February 1941.
I have the Accident Report right here in front of me.
The pilot was Captain R. [Richard] S. Freeman;
Freeman Field, Seymour, Indiana, was named after him.
He was the base commander at Ladd Field, Alaska, at the time of his death.
For a detailed summary of this accident see
Page 2, Volume I
FATAL ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION ACCIDENTS
IN THE UNITED STATES, 1941-1945
-TonyM
Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:33 am
Fri Feb 21, 2014 1:58 pm
Sun Feb 23, 2014 2:41 am
Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:13 pm