Two B-17 lost on 10/14/43

[focusfocus]

Hello

Can someone tell me the place of fall of these B-17?
Serial 42-30135 (95°BG) "Reims/Sedan"
Serial 42-30806 (96°BG) "Near Reims"
It's imprecise!nothing on the net.
Michel

[SteveR]

B-17 Registry gives:

42-30135 95th BG, 334th BS, "Trouble Shooter" shot down by AA, crashed 7 km SE of Schweinfurt. MACR 855.

42-30806 96th BG, 339th BS "V Packet" damaged by fighters, crashed near Reims, France. MACR 832.

Don't know how accurate those are but hope it's a help.

[SteveR]

I had a look in Snetterton Falcons: The 96th Bomb Group In World War II by Doherty and Ward.

It confirms 42-30806 as "V Packet." MACR number was 832, fuselage code was QJ-G. Crash place listed simply as "France." (This info from Appendix J.)

From the text, pp. 67-69: The normal crew for that aircraft was in a different plane that day (borrowed from the 94th BG), "V Packet" being flown to Schweinfurt by Lt. John Scarborough and crew. Scarborough and "V Packet" flew as #2 in the lead element of the lead squadron of the "A Group." "Around 1345, Lt. Scarborough's plane was downed while still five minutes from the IP."

Hope this is of further help to you, sorry I don't have a unit history of the 95th BG.

[Leendert]

Michel,

Crew 42-30806 here: http://francecrashes39-45.net/page_fiche_av.php?id=2908

Regards,
Leendert

[focusfocus]

Thanks for your effort.
About 42-30806
I find it strange that if he crashed in the region of Reims (really?),there are no precises traces,the crew having been taking prisoner!
michel

[SteveR]

MACR 832 for 42-30806 is here:

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/90897203

It states "Last seen dropping out of formation with bad engines." Time given is 1420, location given is Rheims, France.

[SteveR]

MACR 855 for 42-30135 is here:

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/90897627

[Leendert]

Michel,
Remarkable indeed that NARA POW records for crew of 42-30806 state that they were captured in Germany, while Reims is pretty much inside France already…

Regards,
Leendert