US aircraft wrack to id.

[KrisJG3]

Originally Posted by FrankieS

maybe one of them?

1) 9756 441007 B-17 44-6145 Cover Girl 401 614 H. P. Silverstein
2) 9757 441007 B-17 42-31081 Son of Blitz 401 613 A. J. Nelson
3) 9760 441007 B-17 42-107084 Betty's Revenge 401 614 Harasym A

Flak on the bomb run from Stettin to Politz was intense and accurate. As a result the 401st lost five aircraft, and the Wing lost 17 of the 142 aircraft which attacked Politz.
The aircraft shot down were the following:
No 42-107084 ("Betty's Revenge") piloted by Lt. A. Harasym, received a direct hit in the navigator's compartment, killing the bombardier and navigator. One other crew member was killed when he left the plane without a parachute. The others parachuted safely and were made POW's.
http://www.401bg.org/history/aircraft.asp?acid=107084 ---> Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft, Long Beach, California
No. 44-6145 ("Cover Girl"), piloted by Lt. H. P. Silverstein, blew up in mid-air after being hit by flak. Two crew members were thrown clear and parachuted safely but the others were killed in action.
http://www.401bg.org/history/aircraft.asp?acid=6145 ---> Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft, Long Beach, California , Note: http://401bg.org/forum/show_msg.asp?ID=606
No.42-31081 ("Son of Blitz"), piloted by Lt. A. J. Nelson, received a direct hit that blew off the nose of the aircraft, which then went into a vertical dive. None of the crew survived.
http://www.401bg.org/history/aircraft.asp?acid=31081 ---> Manufacturer: Boeing Aircraft Company, Seattle, Washington , Note: http://www.preller.us/MightyEighthMe...ges/61456.html

So this last probably not ?

Source: http://www.401bg.org/history/mission_sum.asp?mid=154

Photos some of them:

Front to back:
42-107151: B-17G-35-DL. IW-B "Cover Girl", assigned 401BG 15 April 44.
x
x
42-107084: B-17G-35-DL. IW-G "Betty's Revenge", assigned 401BG 16 April 44.

http://www.401stforum.com/forumhome/....php?f=1&t=508

But we are not 100% sure of course - how to check it ?

[KrisJG3]

Next details and parts from the same wrack will be soon.

On one small pipe was text: HAMILTON BEACH , another detail from wrack - big pice of black rubber with text: INSIDE NEXT TO FUEL https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...52931600568914
We have a lot of new parts but first we have to washe them and next make a lot of photos for better id.

Finally we would like to agree type of aircraft and (maybe if it will be possible list of crew members).

Best regards,

KrisJG3


Some US Air Force reports about missions over Politz:

1. ↑ Charles McGrew: USAAF Chronology - April, 1944 (ang.). ---> See date: 11.04.1944 -> 52 pcs - Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress -> US Air Force
2. ↑ Charles McGrew: USAAF Chronology - Maj, 1944 (ang.). ---> See date: 29.05.1944 -> 224 pcs B-24 -> US Air Force ---> see: May 29, 1944 Mission #6 Politz : http://valortovictory.tripod.com/1944-05.html http://www.luftwaffe.cz/grunberg.html (Grunberg- He claimed his 70th victory on 29 May, when he shot down a USAAF B-17 ??? four-engine bomber near Stettin.) ; See Mission nr. 63: http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/aprils.../missions.html
   
3. ↑ 29 May 1944 Mission #95 Target: Politz (ang.). B24.NET. ---> See date: 29.05.1944 -> 224 pcs B-24 -> US Air Force
4. ↑ Charles McGrew: USAAF Chronology - June, 1944 (ang.). ---> See date: 20.06.1944 -> 245 pcs B-24 -> US Air Force
5. ↑ 20 June 1944 - Missions #116 & #117 - Targets: Politz & Crepy
   
6. ↑ Charles McGrew: USAAF Chronology - August, 1944 (ang.). ---> See date: 25.06.1944 -> 169 pcs Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress -> US Air Force
7. ↑ Charles McGrew: USAAF Chronology - October, 1944 (ang.). ---> See date: 07.10.1944 -> 142 pcs Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress -> US Air Force ---> http://www.cloudnet.com/~jfb/

B17 - hitted during mission over Politz:

"... Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Battlin' Betty"
Vega B-17G-1-VE Flying Fortress
s/n 42-39847
614th BS, 401st BG, 8th AF
Shot down by flak and fighters on the April 11,1944 mission to bomb the synthetic oil refinery ( Hydrierwerke) at Politz/Sorau. The entire crew became POW's
The crew on her last mission:
2ndLt. F.L. Shaw - pilot
2ndLt. W.R. Cole - copilot
2ndLt. E.W. Engelhardt - navigator
2ndLt. A.L. Autrey - bombardier
S/Sgt. K.A. Terroux - radio operator
T/Sgt. R.W. Macomber - engineer/top turret gunner
Sgt. R.O. Hurd - ball turret gunner
S/Sgt. H.A. Highlen - tail gunner
S/Sgt. R.T. Gordon - waist gunner
S/Sgt. C.K. Seagren - waist gunner ..."

See photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18532986@N07/4509561315/

[KrisJG3]

Dears,

We have found this photo with B-17 Ball Turret interior:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miskypi...n/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miskypi...ream/lightbox/

here is shown our "pedal", look:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...39148581962578

Here is shown black gumi/rubber with connection- we have it, too:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/miskypi...ream/lightbox/

by the way we have a lot of pices from this Ball Turret interior !!!
So first we have: B17 , now we would like to agree name of aircraft and crew members.
Please help if You can .

Best regards,

Kris

PS- answer probably is here:
Some US Air Force reports about missions over Politz:

1. ↑ Charles McGrew: USAAF Chronology - April, 1944 (ang.). ---> See date: 11.04.1944 -> 52 pcs - Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress -> US Air Force
2. ↑ Charles McGrew: USAAF Chronology - August, 1944 (ang.). ---> See date: 25.06.1944 -> 169 pcs Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress -> US Air Force
3. ↑ Charles McGrew: USAAF Chronology - October, 1944 (ang.). ---> See date: 07.10.1944 -> 142 pcs Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress -> US Air Force

"...Oct. 7, 1944:We Bombed Politz Today. All Three Ships In The Lead Element Were Shot Down Over The Target. Colonel Luper, Our Group Commander Was Lost. I Think Two Men Got Out Of His Plane. We Were Hit Over Fifty Times, Holes Everywhere. Every Direction I Looked Flak Was Bursting. I Must Have Prayed Out Loud. I Could Smell The Flak Through My Oxygen Mask. I Was Sweating Even At 40 Degrees Below Zero. The Ship Flying On Our Left Wing Got A Direct Hit In The Nose. It Almost Crashed Into Us Out Of Control. One Man's Body Was Hanging Half Way Out Of What Was Left Of The Nose, Most Of His Clothes Blasted Off. In The Ball I Was Practically Looking The Bursts In The Face As They Tracked Us Along And Kept Exploding Right Under Me... ..."


Source: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jfb/

Books:

http://books.google.pl/books?id=SQnM...Politz&f=false

http://books.google.pl/books?id=82LF...page&q&f=false

----------------------------------------------

[KrisJG3]

New additional details from place where was crashed aircraft (B-17 ?):

https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...q5y_yW-JT71QE#

Please help at id some parts of wrack.

"Red" handle: https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...55686022693682

"Brown" wheel: https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...53641527387970

Do you know who have access to catollgues with parts, code, manufactures of parts to B-17 ?

[KrisJG3]

Here is a lot of details from inside of B-17:
http://www.air-and-space.com/200705%...s%20static.htm



Please see B-17 inside also here:

CLICK HERE TO SEE AMAZING SPHERICAL PANORAMA IMAGES OF THE B-17.

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/tour_b-17g.htm

If somebody need to fly at the B17 - it is possible , have a look:

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cf...xperiences.htm

B-17 Flights - 30 Min. experience
$xxx per person
(min 6 passengers / max 10 passengers)

This details have found on attached photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...55570229742466

https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...40033989424802

[KrisJG3]

Wooden handle:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...guese_Army.jpg

compare:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...39388408481458
https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...40478494720162

[KrisJG3]

Here there are next parts from wrack (part 3):

https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...LmdgK-7o7K_9QE

is it possible on base number 59974-1L (from black pice of rubber) try to id aircraft number and crew ???
https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...82327114449906
https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...82381403124418
https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...82420063916274

Handle from Browing:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1181984...83069830048722

(By the way here is another interesting wrack B17 : http://www.network54.com/Forum/23272...ge+pictures%29 )


Kris