Losses of B-17's in RCM role

[paul peters]

Is there anybody on this board who could tell me about losses of B-17's flown by USAAF and RAF in the radio counter measure role, especially in the fall of 1944.
Is there litterature on this subject?
Many thanks,
paul

[Nick Beale]

Literature: "Confound and Destroy: 100 Group and the Bomber Support Campaign" by Martin Streetly, McDonald & Janes, London 1978.

It includes a chapter on the American units, also a long list of Public record Office (now National Archives) file references if you want to follow up on the source material.

[shooshoobaby]

See book " Squadron of Deception " by Stephen Hutton

[blue spader]

Hi Paul,

this some informations about B-17 RCM
(hope that do not big mistakes)

B-17 lost in RCM missions

Only three squadrons RCM with American aircraft are formed, two in the RAF 100 Group (214 Squadron with B-17 and the 223 Squadron with B-24), one American the 803BS/36 BS (B-17-B24) flying with the 100 Group performing RCM missions both to RAF and 8th AF.

They are none B-17 losses in missions by the Americans, because all B-17s are substituted by B-24 at 2 September 44 (B-17 operational fly from June to August 44.)

For the 214 Squadron the other Fortress squadron, they lost:

(DD/MM/YY)

24/05/44
Operation : Bomber Support
SR384 BU-A
BOEING FORTRESS II A (B17-G)

First A/C and crew lost by 214, since January 44 and his assignation to the 100 Group. And the second lost of a B-17 (First in the 90 Squadron)

KIA
P/O A J N Hockley RAAF
Sgt R G V Simpson

Pow
Sgt W W Hallett
F/S TD Glenn Stalag Luft Sangan 1 Belaria18
F/S R Y Gundy RNZAF Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg 23
F/S R T Lyall RAAF Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg 36
Sgt R F Lloyd Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg 34
Sgt J E McCutchan RCAF Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg 39
Sgt E Lovatt

Take off at 23h40, on an operational flight to Antwerpshot down by a night fighter Oblt Herman Leube 4/NJG3 and crashed at 00h57 into the Oosterschelde.
P/O A J N Hockley RAAF & Sgt R G V Simpson buried at Yerseke general cemetery (Zeeland) on the Zuid Beveland island at 9 miles East of Goes.


21/06/44
Operation : Bomber Support
SR382 BU-B
BOEING FORTRESS II A (B17-G)

KIA
P/O J D. Cassan RAFVR
Sgt S H. Bryant RAFVR
Flt/Sgt G Orr RAFVR
Sgt N W. S. Abbott RAFVR
Flt/Sgt A Sharpe RAFVR


Pow
F/O W Milne Stalag Luft Sangan 1 Belaria 472
F/O J. H. Whatton
Sgt T S. Sparks Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg 414


Evaded
W/O D R. Jennings RCAF

At their base at Oulton, Norfolk, the crew had attended a pre-flight briefing on the forthcoming night's raid on Gelsenkirchen. At approximately 23h52, on the 21st, B17 Fortress BU-B take off from the runway at Oulton and headed east over the North Sea to Holland, then on to the Ruhr Valley.

During the early hours of the 22nd of June 1944, B17 Flying Fortress BU-B (SR382) of 214 Sqn RAF was shot down over Holland by a German night fighter while returning from a raid on Germany.

At some time around 01.00hrs it came under attack by a Messerschmitt 110 piloted by Hauptmann Heinz Struning of NJG1 other said NJG 3. Although BU-B survived the first attacking pass, a second two minutes later proved disastrous, knocking out the inboard starboard engine and rendering the aircraft's controls useless. Instructing the co-pilot to feather the engines the pilot then ordered the rest of the crew to stand-by for an emergency jump, but the very next moment the aircraft was diving out of control for the ground.
Somehow by piloting skill or just plain luck, the pilot and co-pilot managed to pull the aircraft's nose up for just long enough so that the crew could bale out. While five managed to do so the pilot, co-pilot, navigator and an air gunner did not. Some year’s later one of the survivors reportedly said that when he baled out "The pilot and co-pilot were struggling with the aircraft's controls hoping to make a forced landing". It has never been clarified why, but the assumption is that one or more of the crew were badly wounded in the attack and their only chance of survival was to attempt a crash landing.
Whatever the intentions of the pilot and co-pilot some moments later the aircraft in flames crashed into the ground where it quickly burnt out. By the time anyone arrived on the scene four crew lay dead in the wreckage and another lay hidden beneath it.
Dutch observers at Bergharen reported the aircraft as crashing in flames at 1h15-1h20.


Two days later on the 24th four of the crew were buried at what was then known as the "English Graveyard" in Uden, Holland, (now UdenWarCemetery) attended by a Guard of Honour made up of Luftwaffe personnel. Only on the 28th when the wreckage of BU-B was being removed was the body of a fifth member of the crew found under the remains of the fuselage with an open parachute attached. For reasons unknown he was not taken to Uden to be buried along side his fallen comrades but instead was interred in the local civilian cemetery at Bergharen where his body remained until the late 1940s at which time he was exhumed and re-interred at JonkerbosWarCemetery some miles away.


Operation : Bomber Support
SR381 BU-F
BOEING FORTRESS II A (B17-G)

F/L D M Peden RCAF
Sgt K W Bailey
F/S S Mather
F/O J B Waters RCAF
F/S A Stanley injured
Sgt A E Lester
F/S R H Hembrow RAAF
F/S J D Phillips RAAF
F/S J W Walker RCAF

Take off at 23h50 from Oulton, badly shot on the starboard inner engine at 1h16 by a Me210. After a second attack was made by a JU-88 caused further damage and wounded crew. Back to Woodbridge airfield in Suffolk and upon landing a collision with a Lancaster of the 61 Squadron. F/S Stanley was awarded with the DFM, gazetted 4/08/44.

But SR381 BU-F is reported as above to have been lost on 21-22 June 1944 (21/06/1944 ) however P/O Foskett's log book clearly shows that his crew, F/O Corke piloting, took this aircraft up on June 30th 1944

25/08/44
Operation : Bomber Support
HB763 BU-T
BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III c/n 7573 ex-42-97100

POW
WO J R Lee L1 5291
Sgt P J Curtis Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg 697
WO2 G H P Gibbens RCAF Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg 706
F/S J E M Pitchford Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg
F/S A C Smith Stalag Luft Bankau-Kreulberg 720
Sgt P Barkess Stalag Muhlhausen52666

KIA
Sgt A J McNamara
Sgt D Williamson
F/S G Boag DFM
Sgt G Caulfield

Take off at 20h38 from Oulton.
All crew who died are buried in Belgium at Hotton war cemetery.


12/09/44
Operation : Bomber Support
HB767 BU-A
BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7577 42-97104

KIA
F/L P R S Filleul
Sgt P J Wilson
PO R L Dodds RCAF
F/O K P Dack
Sgt R Birkby
Sgt J P Hanet
Sgt G H Benson
Sgt T H Billington
Sgt E Dobson

Sgt R Cooper ? Escaped

Take of at 19h00 from Oulton. Presumed crashed in the English Channel off Calais. The Body of the Sgt Wilson was found on the Calais harbour on 19 Dec. 44.
He and Sgt Birkby are buried in town’s southern war cemetery. In the Canadian war cemetery, lays Dodds, while the other are commemorated on the Runnymede memorial

“It was reported by Researcher Ian Hunt that F/Lt Filleul's Fortress which crashed 12-13/09/1944 and is listed as being a/c HB702 may be incorrect. It's listed as such on Page 421of W.R. Chorley's book "Bomber Command Losses 1944", but Ian confirms the ORB says it was HB767 (BU-A) this is confirmed from two sources, with thanks, through the log of P/O Bill Foskett.

31/10/1944
HB800 BU-V
VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7395 42-98030

Crash-landed at Ford on 3 engines after a fight with an FW 190 (F/S J.P. Robertson),. No other information.


06/11/44
Operation : Bomber Support
HB788 BU-B
BOEING B-17G-50-BO FLYING FORTRESS III c/n 7941 42-102439 As replacement SR382

KIA
F/O J M S Jackson
Sgt R C Bartlett
PO W R Harding
WO1 R D Picciano RCAF
F/S H C Pollard
PO D Hardie
Sgt N V Madgwick
WO K M Bright RAAF
Sgt K J Fletcher
Sgt E G Kelly

Take off at 16h25 from Outon, for Jostle mission supporting the Gravenhorst mission, shot down in Braunschweig area. All crew lie in the ReichwaldForestWarCemetery.

15/11/44
Operation : Bomber Support
HB787 BU-J
BOEING B-17G-50-BO FLYING FORTRESS III c/n 7940 42-102438

KIA
F/S C J Ashworth RNZAF
Sgt G L Hislop
F/O A H Leitch RCAF
F/S W A McLaren
Sgt P E Durman
F/S E R Armstrong RNZAF
F/S T F McCormack RNZAF
Sgt C G M Ogilvie
Sgt R E Mooney RCAF
F/S A McLaughlin RNZAF

Take off from Oulton. Crashed at 04h00 and brunt out while attempting to land, the fortress coming down in a wheat stubble field farmed of Twyford at 1 miles SW of Foulsham airfield, Norfolk. The RNZAF crew are buried at Cambridge city cemetery. The others crew in various cemeteries throughout UK.


16/01/45
Operation : Bomber Support
KJ103 BU-M
VEGA B-17G-60-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III c/n 7736 44-8336

F/O N T Scott
Sgt R J Willing
F/O R V Houston RCAF inj
Sgt D V Lewis
F/O E T Hardman RAAF
F/S R Smith
Sgt B J Lunn
Sgt C Brown
F/S R J Knickle RCAF

KIA
F/O T V McKee RCAF

Take off at 18h00 from Oulton for jostle duties. Hit a tree on return to the base, ran out of fuel crashing at 2h40 near the airfield. McKee is buried in the Brookwood military cemetery; six crew are injured but only one identified.

08/02/45
Operation : Bomber Support
HB796 BU-T
VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III c/n 7391 42-98026

KIA
PO J P Roberson RNZAF
Sgt T W H Usher
F/S P G Buckland
F/S G S M Fowler RAAF
F/S F R Olds RNZAF
Sgt W Bunyan
Sgt E Dobson
Sgt R J Carrott
Sgt W T Banner 2221107

Take off at 3h29 from Oulton, tasked to dispense window at the West of the Ruhr. Presumed lost over the sea, crew names at the memorial at Runnymede. Robertson buried at Broowood military cemetery.
Bunyan at Bolton (Astley bridge) cemetery, Dobson cremated at Bradford crematoriums, Banner in Sutton-in-Ashfield cemetery.

24/02/45
Operation : Bomber Support
HB805 BU-C
VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III c/n 7400 42-98135

KIA
F/O J M Shorttle DFM
F/L F R Woodger
PO R W Towell
F/O R C Allan
WO F H Dix Mid RNZAF
F/O A M Jones DFM
F/S S L Jones
F/S T W J Pollard

Inj-DOW
F/L L G Fowler DFC

Pow
F/S G J E Jennings DFM

Take off at 17h15 from Oulton for window duties. Crashed near Ittenbach, at East of Rhine and at 9 miles SE of Bonn. Majority of crew buried at Rheinberg war cemetery. Fowler badly injured , is buried alongside of a polish soldier (KIA 15/03/45) in Zuidlaren general cemetery Holland.

03/03/45
Operation : Bomber Support
HB815 BU-J
VEGA B-17G-45-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III c/n 7482 44-8082

KIA
PO H Bennett DFC
Sgt L E Billington
F/S H Barnfield
WO L J Odgers RAAF
F/S W Bridden
F/S L A Hadder
F/S F Hares
Sgt P J Healy

Inj
Sgt A McDirmid
WO R W Church

Take off at 18h40 from Oulton on window duties. On return to base, it was shot down by a JU-88 at 1:05 piloted by Lt Arnold Döring 10./NJG 3 (during the Nachtjagd's Operation 'Gisela'). On fire the aircraft crash-landed at 0h51 at Lodge Farm on the airfield borduary.

07/03/45
Operation : Bomber Support
KJ106 BU-G
VEGA B-17G-60-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III c/n 7739 44-8339

KIA
F/O G Stewart RNZAF
F/S H McC McClymont
F/O N Peters
PO J W Winstone RNZAF
F/S H L Henderson RCAF

POW
Sgt W P Mulhall
F/S J V Mathews RAAF
Sgt A J Goldson
WO J Henderson
Sgt K C Phelan

Take off at 18h14 from Oulton for jostle duties in the Hamburg area. Crashed near Pippensen, 2 miles from Buxtehude, Germany between 22h17 and 22h30. The official MRES Report states that cause was flak and another source states the cause was night fighter and yet another, that they were shot down by one of their own. All KIA are buried in Becklingen War cemetery. Phelan after released from captivity is send to RAF Hospital Cosford.


14/03/45
Operation : Bomber Support
HB802 BU-O
VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III c/n 7397 42-98132

All POW
F/L H Rix
Sgt L J Pound
PO H T Sergeant RAAF
F/O W J Lowell-Smith RNZAF
WO A R Irvine RAAF
Sgt A D Mackintosh
F/S J L Cuttance RNZAF
F/S R O Douglas RNZAF
Sgt R Gamble
Sgt B Burgess

Take off at 17h20 from Oulton for Jostle duties in support to the attack on Lutzkendorf. A/C apparently crashed SW of Stuttgart. The Fortress was shot down by Lt. Johanssen, the radio operator to Hptm. Martin Becker of Stab IV./NJG 6, using a free-firing gun in their Bf 110 aircraft. The claim was awarded to Becker (as the pilot) and is recorded as happening at 21h37, 2.5miles S.E. Baiersbronn/W. Eutingen, Germany. Becker and crew claimed 9 aircraft shot down on this night.


15/03/45
Operation : Bomber Support
HB803 BU-L
VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III c/n 7398 42-98133

F/O P J Anderson
F/S H T Harmsworth
F/O F T A Burnett
F/O J A Morton
F/L J E Cryer
WO M C White
F/O L Moran
WO J Hunter
F/S G Mercer
WO L T Wheeler

Take of at 17h45 from Oulton for Jostle operations in Misburg area. Severely damaged by a Ju-88 flown by Hptm. Ernst-Georg Drünkler of 1./NJG5, port wing and fuselage in fire. The rear gunner drive off the enemy. But crossing the allied lines, US AA guns open fire, believing they were firing a Me262. abandoned came down at 3.5miles S of Kruft, West of the Rhine (western side of the Rhine river) and 15 miles WNW from Koblenz. Cryer and white rest in France at Choloy War cemetery.
Drünkler claimed the fortress as destroyed at 22h46, 7miles N.W. Mayen.

HB779 BU-
BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7589 42-97116

Pilot F/L J G Wyne
During this operation this day, 9 crew members bail out over territory enemy. 5 were later murdered on 17 March, and buried at Durnbach War cemetery.
The Fortress succeeded to flying back to Bassingbourn and was repaired.

Murdered
F/O J W Vinall
F/O G A Hall
F/O H Frost DFM
FL S C Matthews DFC
FS E A Percivel DFM

POW
F/L D P Heal
F/L G Pow
F/L T H Tate
F/S N J Bradley

March 14, 1945, (14/03/1945) (15/03/1945) the target was the oil refinery at Lutzendorf, a few miles south of Leipzig. Their task was to fly above the main wave of 244 Lancasters, jamming the enemy radar. The B-17 was specially equipped for this task, with two wireless officers trained to detect both ground-based and airborne radar transmissions, and then knock them out with counter signals. Following the raid, as was standard practice to avoid enemy night fighters, the whole force, including the B-17, rapidly dropped to 3,000ft. Ahead of him, pilot Wynne saw two bombers hit by ground fire. He altered course, dodging the flak that was coming up at them then suddenly a shell hit the port landing wheel, ricocheted and exploded. There was a bang and then a flash and some of the hot fragments hit the inner port engine.' For a while it seemed the damage wasn't serious. Then the oil pressure plummeted in the stricken engine. Soon fire broke out in the engine, the pistons seized up and soon the whole aircraft was shaking furiously, with gauges and light fittings breaking loose and flying about the plane. They were only 1000ft above the ground. Once they had crossed the Rhine, he ordered the crew to put on their parachutes and open the escape hatches. When the vibration became so severe it seemed that the whole plane was about to disintegrate, he told them to jump. As it turned out they were east of Strasbourg rather than north-east and had dropped straight into enemy hands.

Most were captured and taken to the village of Huchenfeld. That night they were dragged out and hauled along the street by a gang of young men. Their captors were dressed in ordinary civilian clothes, but there was a menacing air about them. Suspecting that they were to be killed three of the crew burst free of the captors and ran. Four of them were then murdered by the angry mob, being shot In the Church Yard In cold blood. Tom Tate and Norman Bradley were recaptured and imprisoned. The fifth man, the night engineer, had made a run for it, but was caught later in a neighbouring village where a mob hauled him out of the police station, beat him half to death, and then shot him in the head. The navigator also survived a spell as a POW. Another man, who had broken his leg when his parachute landed, had already been shipped home by the Red Cross. The skipper, John Wynne managed to fly the crippled B-17 back across the Channel. Trapped by then landed it safely at an unfamiliar aerodrome with his port landing wheel shot away.

A year later, in June 1946, Tom Tate and Norman Bradley returned to Germany as witnesses In the war crimes trial against 22 men and youths who had taken part In the killings. It turned out local Nazi leaders had ordered a lynch-mob of Hitler Youth to dress in civilian clothes, posing as outraged villagers. They were to assault the schoolhouse where the RAF men were being held, and take them to their deaths. Seventeen were convicted. Three... officials were hanged, others; imprisoned.

The burgermeister Herr Gustav Schmidt died later in prison in 1951, while serving a sentence for his part in what happened.

20/03/45
Operation : Bomber Support
KB785 BU-A
BOEING B-17G-50-BO FLYING FORTRESS III c/n 7938 42-102436

All KIA
F/O R V Kingdon RCAF
Sgt W D Dale
WO2 W A Routley RCAF
WO2 J W Pellant RCAF
F/S D F Miller
F/O D N Donald RCAF
F/S H M Carter RCAF
Sgt W Perkins
WO2 R G Wilson RCAF
Sgt D Parker

Take off at 23h40 from Oulton on Jostle duties in support of Bohlen operation. All crew buried at Durnbach war cemetery. Donald was an American from Indianapolis.


21/03/45
Operation : Bomber Support
KJ112 BU-P
VEGA B-17G-70-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III c/n 7935 44-8535

F/L W D Allies
WO J McFarlane
F/O B F Kerr DFM
F/O W J Cunningham
F/O S H G Sinclair DFM
WO N Cooper
F/S C R Braithwaite
Sgt P Newman
Sgt R A D Jones
Sgt E L Punnett

Take off at 1h30 from Oulton on jostle duties Hamburg Raid. Lost without trace. All crew commemorated on the Runnymede memorial.

But in the 214 Battle of order from 8 April 45 BU-P KJ112 is piloted by F/L Austin DFC. Who was wrong?

KJ125 BU-J
VEGA B-17G-75-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 8028 44-8628
Written-off. Flak-damaged, overshot and crashed on landing at Florennes-Juzaine, Belgium (F/O M. Crosbie), 16-17/04/1945. No other information



FORTRESS SERIALS

Losses briefly

Fortress SR384 "BU.A" 24/25th May 1944
Fortress SR382 "BU.B" 21/22nd June 1944
Fortress SR381 "BU.F" 21/22nd June 1944 (SR381 BU-F is reported as above to have been lost on 21-22 June 1944 however P/O Foskett's log book clearly shows that his crew, F/O Corke piloting, took this aircraft up on June 30th 1944)
Fortress HB763 "BU.T" 25/26th August 1944
Fortress HB767 "BU.A" 12/13th Sept 1944
Fortress HB788 "BU.B" 6/7th November 1944
Fortress HB787 "BU.J" 15/16th November 1944
Fortress KJ103 "BU.M" 16/17th January 1945
Fortress HB796 "BU.T" 8/9th February 1945
Fortress HB805 "BU.C" 24/25th February 1945
Fortress HB815 "BU.J" 3/4th March 1945
Fortress KJ106 "BU.G" 7/8th March 1945
Fortress HB802 "BU.O 14/15th March 1945
Fortress HB803 "BU.L" 15/16th March 1945
Fortress HB799 "BU.L" 15/16th March 1945
Fortress HB785 "BU.A" 20/21st March 1945
Fortress KJ112 "BU.P" 21/22nd March 1945 (This A/c is recorded as active in April 1945)


Non Losses

Fortress SR383 "BU.X" The order of battle show one entry where SR383 is listed as being BU-X however SR383 had been BU-F (per Researcher Ian Hunt)

Fortress HB819 "BU-U" (HB819 is reported to have been BU-U; this is also confirmed by the Battle order 214 Squadron Battle of Order from 8 April 45 which lists HB819 as a spare aircraft.)

Fortress HB702 "BU-?" (It was reported by Researcher Ian Hunt that F/Lt Filleul's Fortress which crashed 12-13/09/1944 and is listed as being a/c HB702 may be incorrect. It's listed as such on Page 421of W.R. Chorley's book "Bomber Command Losses 1944", but Ian confirms the ORB says it was HB767 (BU-A) Confirmed From Through The Log Of P/O Bill Foskett)

Fortress SR376 "BU-C" Douglas-LongBeach B-17F-30-DL Fortress C/n 8113 42-3177Fortress SR388 "BU-H"
Fortress HB817 "BU-G"
Fortress KJ101 "BU-H"
Fortress KJ114 "BU-B"

Squadron Order of BattleApril 8th 1945,
Fortress KJ125 "BU-J"
Fortress KJ107 "BU-N"
Fortress KH999 "BU-M"
Fortress HB789 "BU-Q"
Fortress KJ114 "BU-B"
Fortress HB801 "BU-T"

Fortress HB779 "BU.? 14/15th March 1945

214 Squadron FORTRESSES

Requisition BSC 149 (AL-109)
Contract AC20292
HB763 (BU-T) BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7573 42-97100
HB765 (BU-B / BU-R) (Code change, while with 214) BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7575 42-97102
HB767 (BU--A BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7577 42-97104
HB772 (BU-Q) BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7582 42-97109
HB774 (BU-G) BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7584 42-97111
HB779 (BU--K or BU-P BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7589 42-97116(N
HB780 (BU-C) BOEING B-17G-40-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7590 42-97117
HB785 (BU-A) BOEING B-17G-50-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7938 42-102436
HB787 (BU-J) BOEING B-17G-50-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7940 42-102438
HB788 (BU—B) BOEING B-17G-50-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 7941 42-102439
HB789 (BU-Q) BOEING B-17G-60-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 8442 42-102940
HB790 (BU-Q) BOEING B-17G-60-BO FLYING FORTRESS III C/n 8443 42-102941

Contract AC-35321
HB793 (BU-S) VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7388 42-98023
HB795 (BU-N) VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7390 42-98025
HB796 (BU-T) VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7391 42-98026
HB799 (BU-K / BU-L) VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7394 42-98029
HB800 (BU-V) VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7395 42-98030
HB801 (BU-U / BU-T) VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7396 42-98131
HB802 (BU—O) VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7397 42-98132
HB803 (BU-L) VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7398 42-98133
HB805 (BU—C) VEGA B-17G-40-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7400 42-98135


Contract AC-40031
HB815 (BU-J) VEGA B-17G-45-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7482 44-8082
HB816 (BU-F) VEGA B-17G-45-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7483 44-8083(N)
HB817 (BU-G) VEGA B-17G-45-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7484 44-8084(N)
HB818 (BU-H) VEGA B-17G-45-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7485 44-8085(N)
HB819(BU-U) VEGA B-17G-45-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7486 44-8086(N)
HB820 (BU-P) VEGA B-17G-45-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7487 44-8087
KH999 (BU-M) VEGA B-17G-55-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7641 44-8241
KJ101 (BU-H) VEGA B-17G-55-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7643 44-8243
KJ103 (BU-M) VEGA B-17G-60-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7736 44-8336
KJ104 (BU-D) VEGA B-17G-60-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7737 44-8337
KJ106, (BU-G) VEGA B-17G-60-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7739 44-8339
KJ107 (BU-N) VEGA B-17G-60-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7740 44-8340
KJ109 (BU-V) VEGA B-17G-60-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7742 44-8342
KJ110 (BU-B) VEGA B-17G-60-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7743 44-8343
KJ111 (BU-C) VEGA B-17G-70-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7934 44-8534
KJ112 (BU-P) VEGA B-17G-70-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7935 44-8535
KJ114 (BU-B) VEGA B-17G-70-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 7937 44-8537
KJ119 (BU-O) VEGA B-17G-75-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 8022 44-8622
KJ122 (BU-D) VEGA B-17G-75-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 8025 44-8625
KJ125 (BU-J) VEGA B-17G-75-VE FLYING FORTRESS (BOEING) III C/n 8028 44-8628

Theatre transfer from 8th AF from USAAF stocks in UK repaid under BSC 149 (AL-109)
SR377 (BU-M) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-80-BO Fortress C/n 5128 42-30014 transferred to RAF Jan 29, 1944
SR378 (BU-D) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-95-BO Fortress C/n 5355 42-30241
SR379 (BU-O) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-105-BO Fortress c/n 5565 42-30451
SR380 (BU-S) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-115-BO Fortress c/n 5733 42-30639
SR381 (BU-F) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-120-BO Fortress c/n 5887 42-30773
SR-382 (BU—B) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-120-BO Fortress c/n 5923 42-30809
SR383 (BU-F / BU-X) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-120-BO Fortress c/n 5926 42-30812
SR384 (BU-A) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-130-BO Fortress c/n 6084 42-30970
SR386 (BU-N / BU-Y) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-95-BO Fortress c/n 5358 42-30244 (listed as lost (95th BG, 334th BS) lost Jan 5, 1944. MACR 1687) sound wrong here.
SR388 (BU-H / BU-Z) BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-130-BO Fortress c/n 6145 42-31031
SR389 (BU-P) BOEING FORTRESSDouglas-LongBeach B-17F-30-DL Fortress c/n 8105 42-3169
? ( "X" )
? ( "Y" )

No recorded but all SR376 to 389 are all served in the 214 Squadron
SR387 BOEING FORTRESS Boeing B-17F-130-BO Fortress c/n 6141 42-31027

At all from 1939-45 Fortress losses (RCM or not) by W R Chorley

Fortress # Ops/non-ops/ground/total
Fortress I 3/2/1/6
Fortress II 3/0/0/ 3
Fortress III 13/1/0/14


214 squadron assigned 16/01/44 from 3 Group with Fortress II at SculthorpeNorfolk at 16/01/44. Based at Oulton Norfolk16/05/44with Fortress III disbanded 27/07/45

Commanding officer
W/Cdr D.J. McGlinn July 1943
W/Cdr D.D. Rogers August 1944
W/Cdr R.L. Bowes March 1945

Boeing Fortress II : Jan to Nov 1944
Boeing Fortress III : Feb 1944 onwards

Statistic - 1225 sorties 13 aircraft lost = 1.061%

Note : 1699 Flight
Formed on 24 April 1944, at Sculthorpe and equipped with three Fortresses, the Flight was responsible for training replacement crews destined to serve with 214 Squadron. On 16 May 1944, the headquarters relocated to Oulton where, in the August, three Liberators were added and the Flights title was amended to read (Training) Conversion Unit. Throughout its life, "1699" was assigned to No.100 Group and although no details have been recorded of its disbandment, it can be assumed to be sometime after, or during May 1945.

Oulton (Norfolk)
Pundit Code – OU
Elevation - 157 feet
Opened July 1940 - Closed November 1947
3 Concrete Runways. 4 Hangars
Opened as satellite to Horsham St faith
Satellite to Swanton Morley from September 1942
Satellite to Foulsham September 1943
214 Squadron 16 May 1944 - 27 July 1945


Source
W R Chorley
John Cripps,
K Crawford,
Ian Hunt
Daily Mail, Saturday December 21st, 2002.
and personnal informations


Hope this helps.

Blue Spader

[paul peters]

Hi Blue Spader,
Thank you very much for your very extensive answer. I need some time to study it.
Once again many thanks,
Paul