43-38353 Lili Marlene MIA 10-17-44

B-17G-85-BO

July 24, 1944 delivered to Cheyenne

August 4, 1944 to Hunter

August 14, 1944 to Grenier

August 19, 1944 Assigned to 7^th Squadron, 34^th Bomb Group, Mendlesham

Mission #64 September 17, 1944 43-38353 E/A 7BS McAllister (lead)

Mission #65 September 19, 1944 43-38353 E/A 18BS Gipson

Mission #71 October 2, 1944 43-38353 E/A (unused ground spare – lead)

October 2, 1944 43-38353 E/A

On Marshalling Chart on Hardstand #1 at 2100-2200 hours.

Mission #72 October 3, 1944 43-38353 E/A 4BS Runyan

Mission #73 October 5, 1944 43-38353 E/A (scheduled for McAllister but replaced.)

Mission #74 October 6, 1944 43-38353 E/A (unused ground spare – lead)

Mission #75 October 7, 1944 43-38353 E/A (unused ground spare)

Mission #76 October 9, 1944 43-38353 E/A Notman      Slight damage.  S/Sgt William J. Escherich (TG) Severely WIA. Admitted to 65^th General Hospital.

Mission #77 October 14, 1944 43-38353 E/A 7BS McAllister

Mission #79 October 17, 1944 43-38353 E/A 7BS McAllister       MIA. See below.

Mission #79 October 17, 1944 B-17G 43-38353 E/A “Lili Marlene” With 7BS Missing in Action Cologne flak. At 0915 hours there was a small fire in #1 engine. Some crews reported seeing trailing vapor which would indicate the wing tanks were on fire. After 3-5 minutes the plane peeled out of formation and into a shallow dive in an apparent attempt to put out the fire. Following this maneuver black smoke issued from the engine (#1). When last seen, it was trailing smoke, but seemed under control and holding altitude at 17,000 feet. At 1012 hours, near Liege, a B-17 was observed flying at 12,000 feet with #1 engine on fire and escorted by 5 P-51 fighters. This could possibly be the same aircraft. Crashed Ahrweiler, Germany. Pilot: Capt. McAllister. Missing Air Crew Report # 9468. 1 Killed in Action, 9 Prisoner of War including George H. Carroll, wounded in parachute. See 34^th Bombardment Group (H) 1941-1945 pp. 43-44 were George Ritchie tells in a story titled “The Not So Great Escape” about his experience as a Prisoner of War following this mission and his eventual escape.

POW McALLISTER WALTER L (P)                CAPT     7              O-441022                24            BALTIMORE MD

POW CHAMPION ANDREW S (CP)               1 LT        7              O-796306                18            MAYWOOD NJ

POW BALDEA ELI JR (N)                                 1 LT        7              O-703163                24            EAST CHICAGO IL

POW RITCHIE GEORGE J (B)                            1 LT        7              O-697760                27            FLUSHING NY

POW SMITH ROBERT C (E/TT)                       T/SGT    7              35048367                24            WELLINGTON OH

KIA SEARS REEDY A (R)                                  T/SGT    7              34507119                24            FRANKLIN TN

POW CARROLL GEORGE H (BT)                     S/SGT     7              38387965                25            GILBERT LA        

POW COON WILLIAM C JR (WG)                  SGT        7              16160658                19            ANN ARBOR MI

POW GRAFF OTTO R (TG)                               S/SGT     7              32765713                24            KEANSBURG NJ

POW DOMINO JOSEPH F JR (NG)                  S/SGT     7              33599945                23            PERKASIC PA