2Lt. Walter G. Burry, O-747078

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

On the 11th January, 1944, 2Lt. Walter G. Burry bailed from the B17 in which he was Navigator.
The a/c was of the 301st BG/419th BS.
Anyone have the B17's serial number ?
The MACR doesn't give details.

Thanks
Alex

[RSwank]

Alex, the MACR does say the pilot was "Flathers". George W Flathers was a pilot in the 301st BG, 419th BS. There is a photo of Flathers with B-17 42-31182 "The Mighty Rabbit" here:

http://www.301bg.com/b-17_42-31182.cfm

Implication from the photo seems to be it was "his" ship.

So, perhaps that was the plane. (A tentative ID at best).

[Frank Olynyk]

I have the aircraft in my database as 42-30465, but at this point I do not remember where I got that from. However, the 419th BS history for January 1944 notes the aircraft as #465, so I am pretty sure my database is correct. The other crew members are not named in the history.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Rottler]

Hello Frank,

according to Dave Osborne "B-17 Fortress Master Log" the B-17 42-30465 was lost on 30 March 1944, MACR 3714.

Regards
Leo

[Alex Smart]

Hello Rolland and Frank,
At first I would have accepted your suggested a/c serial number Rolland. But after viewing the 301 link I saw that 42-30357 had two named navigators, two Squadrons and two MACR's for the 11th January,44. So MACR 2606 and MACR 1831 contradict the named navigator.
Also 353rd Sqdn and 419th ?
So could well have been 42-31182.
Then Frank comes up with 42-30465, also given as a 419th a/c that eventually was lost on the 30th March, 44, so also a possibility.
As for the original crew list has Flather's, 1Lt but Burry is not listed in that original crew list.I forget now how many a/c were on the mission that were 301 Group a/c but there are at least these numbers noted in the macr's, 42-30357; 42-3098; 42-30466; 42-31398; 42-30341; 42-30106 and 42-37967.
So to add 42-31182 and 42-30465 would bring the total to at least nine a/c .
There were 21 301st BG a/c on the mission, five were lost.
Twelve other serial numbers were ?

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello Leo,
Yes but this was an event in January.
However ,
I have reached for Dick Drain's book and found surprisingly that Burry is noted as a KIA.
Wayne Cherringtons crew list is given as -
Riley; Burry ; Stucks; Korzeniowski; Stucks; Craig; Wood; Murray; Wallace; Sexton.
Wood; Murray and Wallace POW, rest KIA.
So would seem that Burry being in the Flather's crew is misleading ?
Have looked again at MACR 1834 to check names.
Stucks should read Stucka
And Burry is not named in the MACR.
So back to Flather's crew and possible two serials to choose from.
All for now
Alex

[Frank Olynyk]

Flathers and Burry were together in 42-30465. Cherrington et al were in 42-30341.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Alex Smart]

thank you Frank,
Another one dealt with,
Alex