96th BG aircraft "Frantic II" ?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
96th Bomber Group aircraft that took part in "Frantic II".

I understand that some twenty-one (21) B-17's from the 96th BG took part .
But how many returned early to the UK (Serial numbers please any?).

How many were lost en route to the USSR (Serial numbers please any?).

How many returned to the UK (?).

I understand that the following were destroyed or damaged while on the ground at Poltava.

42-102573 - 338 BS - BX-T - Lt.Sigmund Swanberg - Dest/Sal.
42-102603 - 339 BS - QJ-B - Dam/Sal/Regained, USA, Bradley 11July 1945.
42-102625 - "All American Girl" - 338 BS - AW-B - Lt.Ken Bope - Dest/Sal.
42-102641 - 339 BS - QJ-K - Lt.Lee Seeman- Dest/Sal.
42-102653 - 339 BS - QJ-A - Lt.Tom Barton - Dest/Sal.
42-102670 - 338 BS - BX-Q - Dest/Sal.
42-102686 - 339 BS - QJ-M - Lt.Jack Hodson - Dest/Sal.
42-102701 - "Angel Puss" - 338 BS - BX-M - Lt. James Bayer - Dest/Sal.
42-102950 - 339 BS - QJ-S - Lt. Herschel Anderson- Dest/Sal.
42-107116 - "Gypsy Girl" - 338 BS - BX-B - Lt. Tom Booth - Dest/Sal.
42-107227 - "Cabin in the Sky" - 337 BS - AW-E - Lt. Ken Leininger - Dest/Sal.
43-37550 - 337 BS - AW-D - Lt. Jack Hooper - Dam/Regained, Knoxville, Tennessee 21/01/1946.
43-37781 - 337 BS - AW-R - Lt. Carl Schram - Dest/Sal.
42-97628 - 413 BS - MZ-U - Dest/Sal.
42-97698 - 413 BS - MZ-L - Dam/Regained - c/l Algeria 12July '44.
42-97881 - 339 BS - QJ-N - Dest/Sal.
42-97903 - Dest/Sal.
44-6081 - 338 BS - BX-K - Dest/Sal.

Can anyone give the "missing three(3) that I haven't found please ?

Also please do not include any that continued to operate from the UK during the Frantic Ii dates, as I do believe that one or two were lost over Western Europe during that time, including -
42-97524 - 337 BS - MZ-S - 2Lt.William A, MacDonald - MACR 5916.
42-102552 - 339 BS - QJ-J - 1Lt.Jay H, Horn - MACR 5917.

Thank you
Alex

[MW Giles]

Snetterton Falcons 96th BG p285

413 Sqn, Lead 1 #698 MZ-L Knox/Hand Sal July
337 Sqn, Lead 2 #625 AW-B Bope Destroyed
337 Sqn, Lead 3 #530 AW-D Hooper Destroyed
337 Sqn, Lead 4 #227 AW-E Leininger Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c 2107227)
337 Sqn, Lead 5 #137 AW-H Gray Repaired (Crashed 1945)
337 Sqn, Lead 6 #160 AW-L Atwood Destroyed
337 Sqn, Lead 7 #781 AW-R Schram Destroyed

339 Sqn, High 1 #641 QJ-K Seeman Destroyed
339 Sqn, High 2 #603 QJ-B Harvey Repaired later
339 Sqn, High 3 #686 QJ-M Hodson Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c #2102686)
339 Sqn, High 4 #881 QJ-N Yoder Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c #297881)
339 Sqn, High 5 #950 QJ-S Anderson Destroyed
339 Sqn, High 6 #952 QJ-D Estle Pilot and co-pilot KIA (a/c OK)
339 Sqn, High 7 #653 QJ-A Barton Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c #2102653)

338 Sqn, Low 1 #158 BX-D Lawson-Good Repaired later
338 Sqn, Low 2 #670 BX-Q Wighaman Destroyed (photo of burned out a/c #2102670)
338 Sqn, Low 3 #116 BX-B Booth Destroyed
338 Sqn, Low 4 #573 BX-T Swanbergh Destroyed
338 Sqn, Low 5 #903 BX-Z Stenseth Destroyed
338 Sqn, Low 6 #081 BX-K Crownover Destroyed
338 Sqn, Low 7 #701 BX-M Bryer Destroyed

Spares
337 Sqn AW-Q Lichtenegger
338 Sqn BX-A Lyle
338 Sqn BX-N Huguley
338 Sqn BX-J Horn

Standby
337 AW-J
339 QJ-G
338 BX-F

25 a/c took off, but the four spares returned to Snetterton, leaving the 21 a/c to go to Ruhland
Putting up spares allows the formation to be maintained if there is an early return, but must have been hard on the crews who take off not knowing whether they are going on the op or not

All the losses appear to be on the ground in USSR. All the B-17s are lined up and close together, which is asking for trouble

Hope the list helps

Martin

[Alex Smart]

Many thanks Martin, that is one book that I don't have

Just one thing though.
My info for Hooper's aircraft gives -
43-37550 - 337 BS - AW-D - Lt. Jack Hooper - Dam/Regained, Knoxville, Tennessee 21/01/1946.

While you have given -
337 Sqn, Lead 3 #530 AW-D Hooper Destroyed.

Is yours a typo error or is it so in the book ?

My refs for "550" were -
"The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" page 230.
"Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth" page 297.
"The Mighty Eighth Combat Chronology " page 160.

Thanks again for your most welcome help.
Alex

[MW Giles]

That is what the book says, it is the authors (Doherty and Ward), not me. They repeat the serial elsewhere in the book.

As to 530 or 550 I do not know

Martin

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Martin,
43-37530 details in
The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" page 229.
Del Cheyenne 26/4/44; Kearney 11/5/44; Grenier 24/5/44; ass 96BG Snetterton 27/5/44; tran 422BS/305BG[JJ-A] Chelveston 4/6/44; tran 858BS Cheddington 26/6/44; c/l Base 10/7/44; sal 4/1/45.

"Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth"
Page 297.
337530 96
290444 AI; 260544 AOS; 00 00 44 G.

Page 64
337530 305 422 JJ A.
290444 AI; 260544 AOS; 040644 G; 240644 858BS.

Page 353
Details of the Night Leaflet 422 Squadron B17's.
337530 422 JJ A
290444 AI; 260544 AOS; 040644 G; 100744 CL 040145 SAL.
AI
A/C Added to AAF Inventory.
AOS
A/C Arrived or Assigned Overseas.
CL
Crash Landed, Pilot had control of aircraft.
G
Gained.
SAL
Salvaged.

Alex