Some details on the loss of B-17G 42-97828 Queenie?

[Alain57]

Hi ,
Sorry made a mistake about the date :

On the ninth, in response to an Army request, 37 of our aircraft went out for an attack on the motor road viaduct at Arnsberg, Germany. Capt. Cronin, assistant Group operations officer, led the contingent, which flew all the way to the target over broken cloud only to find the objective completely covered. In addition, the cloud layer ran much higher than briefed, completely enveloping our aircraft at bombs-away, which was handled on PBO-GH technique. There was neither flak nor fighter at the targets and all our Forts and crews returned without casualty or incident.

Five new crews arrived on the base early this same evening. Pilots and the squadrons to which assigned are: Lts. Smith and Perry, 535, and Lts. Hall, Hull, and Adelmeyer, 534.

Missions intended for targets at Kassel and Munster were scrubbed on the tenth and eleventh, respectively. On the latter night, highlighted by a dance at which Lt. Cols. Hall and Reed were present as guests of honor, the Station’s new non-commissioned officers’ club, located in the old quartermaster building adjoining combat mess, was officially opened. Membership is limited to top three-graders.

Col. Leber was unable to attend, being required at the officers’ club, where he and Brig. Gen. Gross, First Combat Wing commander, presented DFCs and Bronze Star medals to combat and ground personnel.

Regards

[ChristianK]

Hi Alain, thanks for the info! One thing is strange, though - In my files I have 42-97828 as MIA on 9 February 1945. Seems this is wrong, as the 381st BG's war diaries record no loss on this date.
This website: http://www.381st.org/Portals/19/old381st/noseart-q.html says the ship was salvaged at the end of February 1945. Photos too indicate a crash-landing. Any idea what happened to "Queenie", when and why?

[Leendert]

Christian (and Alain),

Answer is in the Feb 45 reports of the 242nd Medical Detachment on the 381st BG website:

9 February – Captain Cronin led 37 aircraft which took off at 09.30 hrs the destination being Arnsberg, Germany. A railroad bridge was bombed from 22,000 ft, at minus 40 degrees, by GH, blind and unobserved. GH reported an excellent bomb run. Flak was meager and inaccurate, although some was encounter on the way home over the Zuider Zee. No fighters were encountered and there were no casualties.
One ship did not return, Lt Williamson, but it was later learned that he crash-landed in France and there was one injured, but the individual is unknown at the present time.

It appears that Lt Williamson flew with 535th BS.

Regards,

Leendert