91 BG's Priority Gal - we hardly knew ya ...
 

Seattle-built B-17G-45-BO, Priority Gal
91st Bomb Group, 323rd Bomb Squadron
Bassingbourn
Tail number 297304, OR-C code

17 Feb 44 - Accepted into inventory

21 March 44 - Arrived overseas

1 April 44 - Gained by 91st BG

8 April 44 - Her first mission (Oldenburg; Lt. Riser crew)

11 April 44 - First of 22 missions with Lt. Pryor crew (including three trips to Berlin). Lt. Pryor named the new 'silver' ship ... Pryor ... Priority Gal ... get it?. Succession of crews flew her after that, until ...

Mid-July 44 - Lt. Henry Supchak crew become "owners" of P. G. Supchak crew flies 8 missions in her until ...

31 July 44 - (50th mission for the 'Gal). Ship failed to return from Munich marshalling yards mission (a tough target). 9 POW, 0 KIA for Supchak crew. MACR #7806.

Loss Event: Over the target she took flak in nos. 1 and 2 engines and started trailing black smoke. Supchak feathered no. 1, but it continued to windmill, causing excessive drag. Priority Gal lagged behind the group. Two other Forts dropped back to help provide mutual protection, but eventually they were called back, and the 'Gal was left on her own. At 1310 hrs Supchak reported over VHF that two engines were out and he was turning for Switzerland. She was last seen as a speck in the sky heading south. She is thought to have gone down after fighter attacks around Neustift, Austria during her journey to internment. All crew survived in German POW camps.


The Supchak crew poses with their new ship and her ground crew. Of note is the Neutral Gray chin turret. A common feature of the early 'silver' Forts.


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Wade