Walter Oesau investigating a victory

[Nick Hector]

Here's what I can add, just as a straight copy-past from my database....

20.12.42/1230
B-17F-30-BO Flying Fortress
Melun @ 5000-6000m
This was most likely a claim for 42-5071 of 367th BS, 306th BG. 1/Lt. Danton J Nygaard and one other POW, one evaded and 7 KIA (also claimed by Oblt. Horst Maier-ten-Doornkaat)

20.12.42/1353
B-17 Flying Fortress
20km NNW of Dieppe @ 5000-3500m
Possibly claimed against 303rd BG

4.4.43/1430
B-17F Flying Fortress
W of St. Pierre-les-Elbeuf @ 6500m
303rd or 305th BG. 303rd's include B-17F 41-24609/BN-Q "Holy Mackeral" of the 359th BS (to fighters near Rouen, 6 KIA & 4 POW) and the 427th BS lost B-17F-25-BO 41-24569 "Memphis Tot" to fighters over Zwolle

29.5.43/1725
B-17 Flying Fortress
PQ 3831/14 West @ 7-8000m
360th BS, 303rd BG lost B-17F-27-BO 41-24602/PU-A "Yardbird" of 1/Lt. Joseph E Trojan and 7 others POW, remaining 2 crewmen both KIA (already damaged by Flak). 422nd BS, 305th BG lost B-17F-35-BO 41-29531/JJ-Z of 1/Lt. Marshall R Peterson and crew all POW except one man KIA. 509th BS, 351st BG lost B-17F-35-BO 42-29838/RQ-U "The Concho Clipper" of 1/Lt. Colonel J Russell Jr and 5 others POW, remaining 4 crewmen all KIA (already damaged by Flak. 88 shell took out ball turret). 525th BS, 379th BG lost B-17F-25-DL 42-3113/FR-F of 1/Lt. Arthur P Hale and crew all POW. 410th BS, 94th BG lost B-17F-65-BO 41-29476/GL- of 1/Lt. Max L Hecox and crew all KIA except one man POW plus 42-29692/GL- of 1/Lt. Merle E Brown and crew all KIA except one man POW. 335th BS, 95th BG lost B-17F-65-BO 42-29689/OE-H of Lt. Cody U Watson and 4 others evaded, 5 POW (attributed to collision with a fighter). 337th BS, 96th BG lost B-17F-20-DL 42-3042/AW- of 1/Lt. Jack L McMath and 6 others KIA, remaining 3 crewmen all POW to Fw190


30.1.44/1200
B-17 Flying Fortress
301st BG lost B-17G-15-BO 42-31424 of 353rd BS
351st BG lost B-17F-75-DL 42-3509 "the Crystal Ball" of 511th BS, 1/Lt. Charles E Robertson and crew all POW except one man KIA over Hengelo due to flak and fighters
379th BG lost B-17G-20-BO 42-31535/FO-Y 1/Lt. Kenneth D Adams and crew all POW, 1 KIA (bie Essern (Minden)), plus B-17F-25-DL 42-3325/WA-Y "Paddy Gremlin" of 524th BS, 2/Lt. Kenneth Davis and crew all POW. 526th BS lost 42-31692/LF-F of 1/Lt. Frank E Upson and 1 other POW, 8 KIA
381st BG lost B-17F-65-BOs 42-29761/VP-W "Martha the II" of 533rd BS, 1/Lt. Henry D Steele and 5 others POW, 4 KIA over Deurne, Belgium; whilst 535th BS lost B-17F-80-BO 42-30029 "Chaps Flying Circus" 1/Lt. Carl O Baer all KIA, damaged by fighters and ditched in the North Sea and B-17G-1-BO 42-31047/MS-T "Wolverine" (aka "Little Duchess") crew of 2/Lt Robert P Deering 8 men KIA and 2 POW (attributed to fighters NE of Ottbergen, 6 miles E of Hildesheim)
384th BG lost B-17G-10-DL 42-37727, and B-17F-50-BOs 42-5404/JD-M "The Geezil", 2/Lt. Horace F Writz and 2 others POW, 7 KIA
401st BG lost B-17G-15-DL 42-37856/SC-B "Fancy Nancy III" of 612th BS, definitely to an Fw190. 2/Lt. Ronald Roger Rohner and 4 others KIA remaining 5 crewmen all POW near Beinrode around 1204 (one source says 1145)

30.1.44/1220
B-17 Flying Fortress eV
447th BG lost B-17G-5-BO 42-31146 of 708th BS, 1/Lt. Merten C Putnam and 7 others POW, 2 KIA at Weeze, S of Goch/near Gladbach (engine trouble, followed by Flak, finished by fighters) Was this it?


10.2.44/1255
B-17 Flying Fortress
E of Zwolle/S of Coevorden (PQ S/FO or FQ-4) @ 6000m
94th BG lost B-17F-100-BO 42-30378/QE- "Good Time Cholley III", 2/Lt. Alton D Anderson and crew all POW; B-17G-1-BO 42-31080 "Hey Moitle", 2/Lt. Paul A MacWilliam and 4 others KIA, 5 POW and B-17G-10-VE 42-39984/QE- of 2/Lt. Frederick E Barker and 5 others POW, 4 KIA Liebenau, all of 331st BS. 333rd BS lost B-17G-30-BO 42-31838/TS- of 2/Lt. William S Gingold and 6 others POW, 3 KIA.
95th BG B-17G-1-BO 42-31054/QW-Q "Irish Luck" of 412th BS, 2/Lt. Clark A Huddleston and crew all POW except 1 KIA plus B-17G-25-BO 42-31658/BG-G of 334th BS, 2/Lt. James J Kelly and 6 others POW, 3 KIA and B-17G-15-VE 42-97447/BG-E of 334th BS. 335th BS lost 42-37971/OE-W of 1/Lt. Anthony M Tuberose and 7 others POW, 2 KIA. 96th BG lost B-17G-20-BO 42-31492/MZ- "Discoveree" of 413th BS, F/O Emanuel Magilavy and crew all POW except 1 man KIA SW of Nienburg. 97th BG lost B-17G-20-BO 42-31489 of 414th BS. 100th BG lost B-17F-85-BO 42-30062/LD-O "Bastard's Bungalow" of 418th BS, 1/Lt. Arthur E Scoggins KIA, rest of crew all POW. 390th BG lost B-17G-5-BO 42-31218/FC-E "ETO- It is" of 571st BS, 1/Lt. John G Burke and 6 others POW, 1 KIA and 2 evaded. 447th BG lost B-17G-1-BO 42-31096 "the Squirming Squaw" of 711th BS, crew of Lt. John G Jellison all POW (8th & 9th losses doesn't state cause, another says definitely to fighters) plus 42-31167 of 710th BS, 1/Lt. Philip D Beall and 4 others POW, 5 KIA
452nd BG lost B-17G-15-BO 42-31338 "Hard to Get" of 728th BS. 2/Lt. Kenneth D Smith and 6 others POW, 3 KIA plus B-17G-20-DL 42-37960 "Delta Girl" of unspecified BS, down near Dankern
Another loss from 731st BS was B-17G-20-DL 42-37950 "Dinah Might", 2/Lt. Thomas F Sharpless and crew all POW except one man evaded near the Zuider Zee

22.2.44/1336 and 1525
2 x B-17s
1st BD, 8th AAF. 38 losses


6.3.44/1215-1220
B-17G-10-BO Flying Fortress
S of Delmenhorst/Vechta area (PQ ER to FR) @ 3000m
Likely 42-31251/BG-P of 334th BS, 95th BG. 1/Lt. Thomas T Keasby and crew all POW


If anyone wants the full list, just ask