B17 loss 20th November 1942
 

Hi,

According to P38 at War page 48.

On the 20th November 1942 20 or so Ju87s and Ju88s Bombed maison Blanche.
The entire British PRU unit was destroyed , four Spitfires, as were a Beaufighter, Two P38s and a B17.

Any information with regard to these losses is most welcome, especialy the B17.

Many thanks

Alex

Re: B17 loss 20th November 1942
 

Alex: # 41-24376 97th BG , 341st Sq.
Bombed by LW on Take - Off Maison Blanche 11/20/42
Pilot - Lt. Hughes
Crew - All KIA
Mike

Re: B17 loss 20th November 1942
 

According to the book 'Pride of Seattle. The Story of the first 300 B-17Fs', 41-24376 was delivered on 20 June 42 and flown overseas by the 92nd BG, later transferred to the 341st BS, 97th BG, and flown to North Africa by Lt Arthur M Hughes and crew. During the evening of 20 November 1942, Hughes was taxiing the aircraft across the field with a full bomb load when German bombers attacked the base. The B-17 was hit by a bomb and blown to pieces. There were no survivors.

The following airmen of 341st BS are buried on Carthage American War Cemetery and listed as killed on this date:
1st Lt Alfred J Cogdill
Staff Sgt Deles T Cooper
Sgt Larry B Hagan
Sgt Alton H Hinson
Note that about 2/3 of US war dead were brought home after the war and so didn't appear on the list available on the AMBC website.

For more details, use the contacts listed there: http://www.armyairforces.com/forum/m_53259/tm.htm

Re: B17 loss 20th November 1942
 

Hi,

Thank you both for your replies.

Just what I was looking for.

Anyinfo on the other aircraft I mentioned ?


Alex

Re: B17 loss 20th November 1942
 

My grand uncle, 1st Lt. James K. Bone, was the co-pilot on that B-17. I have more information if you would like anything in particular.

Re: B17 loss 20th November 1942
 

Hi all,

that was the 1st fatal loss of US B-17 in MTO? Was there another destroyed B-17 on the grounf in next days of the B-17s ?

Faenor

Re: B17 loss 20th November 1942
 

It seems that 41-24376 was lost on 11/20/42 and another one lost also at Maison Blanche on 11/21/42. There is a fair amount of confusion about that though in the evidence I can find. For example, 41-24376 might have been the one that was destroyed on 11/21/42. Hard to say with certainty imo.