Long Shot... B-17G Data Plate, and a Previous WIX Post

[Dennis7423]

All-

I recently discovered that my Grandfather was the bombardier on a B-17G that was shot down on March 30, 1945 on a mission to Hamburg, Germany. I was able to cross-reference a letter he wrote to his parents in 1945 with official missions from the 96th BG, and I ascertained that he was the Bombardier on 43-39105, coded AW-Q of the 96th BG/337th BS on that mission. While searching for photographs of the aircraft, I came across this posting from WIX in 2015, from a now-absent member named "seanbetsy". See the following link for his post:

/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=56283

It appears Mr. Seanbetsy was able to source the data plate from the aircraft my Grandfather went down in. Crazy!

I am wondering if anyone here has contact with this person, because I am interested in attempting to obtain the data plate from him. My Grandfather recently passed away on 12/24/17, and I would love to include this piece in a shadow box that we are currently constructing for his daughter, my mother. If anyone has any info, it would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[Craig59]

That is their one and only post and their profile shows the last visit to the site in July 2015. Assuming that Sean Betsy might be the first and last name, you might try searching the web using that. Best of luck.

[bdk]

Send him a PM. He should be notified by email. Hopefully his email address is still valid.

[Dennis7423]

Here's to hoping, just sent him one. Wasn't aware I could message someone who isn't a member here any longer.

[bdk]

Good point, but the system seems to allow it.

Not sure if Scott can retrieve old email addresses from the forum software, but that might be another option.

[seanbetsy]

Hello Dennis7423
I am so sorry but I sold the plate in 2015. When I have time I can try and figure out who I sold it to. I may not be able to but I will try. Sorry again!!

[Mark Allen M]

Do you have photos of this B-17G? Any artwork or name?

[Dennis7423]

Thanks for the reply Sean! If you can't find anything, I understand. I know it's a long shot.

Mark, I haven't found any photos of the plane, yet. I'm working on getting hundreds of my Grandfather's photos from WWII developed, and I'm hoping there's some in there. It was a 96th BG/337th BS B-17G coded AW-Q, serial 43-39105.

His usual plane was B-17G AW-R, coded 44-6888. I have lots of photos of her, and even a compass from her instrument panel my Grandfather removed from her after they crashed on 10 May 1945.

[Mark Allen M]

Dennis I'll take a look in my 96th BG files. See what I can find

M

[Dennis7423]

Thanks Mark, that would be great! If you have any photos of either, that would be much appreciated.

Here's a link for his regular plane, 44-6888, which I have been slowly working on building out on the AAM website:

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/16042

Here's 43-39105, which doesn't have much at all:

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/13110

It shows that Lee Woods was the bombardier when she was shot down, but my Grandfather's account of being on that mission, taking flak to the hand and 30 holes in the nose, and losing two engines while crashing in Germany is consistent with him being on this plane when it went down. It was one of two 96th BG B-17's lost on the mission, with the other going down over the target. My Grandfather noted that this mission was on March 30th. According to records, the plane was last seen going into the clouds at around 5,000 ft near Fulda, Germany, being escorted by Mustangs from the 356th FG.

Here's my Grandfather's page on the same website, which I updated last night with the missions he participated in:

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/133453

And, as a shameless plug, here's a GoFundMe that I have started to help me with funding to get his pictures developed from the war:

https://www.gofundme.com/grandfather039s-wwii-photos

Thanks for your attention everyone! I really appreciate it.

- Dennis S.
Thornton, CO USA