Identify burned B17 (724)

[michel]

Hi all,

Who can help me identify this crash-landed-burned B17 bomber ??
On the tail you can see the numbers 724 and on the square/triangel looks like the the letter K or ??
Thanks in advance,

Michel

[udf_00]

My guess : https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/...ectant-father/

[RSwank]

I think 42-97241 is a good guess.

42-97241 was from the 388th BG which had a tail code of Square H. While the tail code in the photo looks more like an "K", when you look carefully at the picture I think what we think is the bottom right "slant" of the letter K is actually a piece of the wreck bent out from the tail and reflecting in the sun. It may even be part of the painted right side of the H bent outward.

I have a special interest if it really is 42-97241 as I was involved in tracking down the radio operator, John Moses Russell who was rescued by a fisherman from Warnemunde, Friedrich Peters. Peters wrote up a description of the rescue for his family. Friedrich always wondered what happened to Russell. A German TV network later made a documentary about the meeting between Erwin Peters (son of Friedrich) and John Russell in California. The documentary was called "Dein Feind und Helfer".

[michel]

Hi Guys,
That's possible about the H on the tail.
I also read that the a enemy fighter set fire in the radioroom, and on the next pictures you can see the result of the fire. So its possible that this plane is the 42-97241 of the 388th Bomb group.

Michel