43-38402 unknown name LOST 3-26-45
B-17G-85-BO
July 29, 1944 Delivered to Cheyenne
August 9, 1944 to Kearney
August 16, 1944 to Grenier
August 18, 1944 Assigned to the 391st Squadron, 34th Bomb Group, Mendlesham
Mission #64 September 17, 1944 43-38402 L/P 4BS Heiby
Mission #66 September 22, 1944 43-38402 L/P (unused ground spare)
Mission #68 September 26, 1944 43-38402 L/P (unused ground spare)
Mission #69 September 27, 1944 43-38402 L/P 18BS Hemingway
Mission #70 September 28, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Marsden
October 2, 1944 43-38402 L/P
On Marshalling Chart on Hardstand #18 at 2100-2200 hours.
Mission #72 October 3, 1944 43-38402 L/P 4BS Halbert
Mission #74 October 6, 1944 43-38402 L/P (unused ground spare)
Mission #75 October 7, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman
Mission #89 November 9, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman
Mission #90 November 16, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman
Mission #91 November 21, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bowen Major damage. Pilot wounded.
Mission #92 November 25, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman
Mission #94 November 29, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman
Mission #95 November 30, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman Major damage
Mission #96 December 4, 1944 43-38402 L/P 18BS Goss
Mission #97 December 5, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Murphy
Mission #98 December 6, 1944 43-38402 L/P 7BS Hartley
Mission #99 December 11, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Felker
Mission #101 December 15, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Ettlebrick
Mission #102 December 24, 1944 43-38402 L/P 391BS Sherman (slight battle damage)
Mission #106 December 31, 1944 43-38402 H/P 7BS Gibson
Mission #107 January 2, 1945 43-38402 H/P 4BS Gibson
Mission #108 January 3, 1945 43-38402 H/P 18BS Kimmerle
Mission #110 January 10, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Anderson Failed to take off.
Mission #111 January 13, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Jones, J. L.
Mission #112 January 14, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Anderson Dropped 7 bombs, brought back 5 – rack malfunction
Mission #113 January 15, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Hammersley
Mission #114 January 16, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman
Mission #115 January 20, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Hammersley
Mission #119 February 3, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #121 February 9, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Schifferer
Mission #123 February 15, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #124 February 17, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #125 February 19, 1945 43-38402 L/P (unused ground spare)
Mission #126 February 20, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #127 February 21, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #128 February 22, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #132 February 27, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #133 March 1, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #134 March 2, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #135 March 3, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #136 March 4, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Bass
Mission #137 March 7, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman
Mission #141 March 12, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Feldman
Mission #142 March 14, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Werth
Mission #144 March 17, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Schifferer
Mission #145 March 18, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Baker
Mission #146 March 19, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Werth
Mission #148 March 21, 1945 43-38402 L/P 18BS Buchanan
Mission #149 March 22, 1945 43-38402 L/P (unused ground spare)
Mission #150 March 23, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Evans
Mission #151 March 24, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS Schaus
Mission #152 March 26, 1945 43-38402 L/P 391BS McCutchan, H. Lost – collision over U.K.
B-17G 43-38402 L/P Mid-air collision with a 452BG B-17 during assembly. Planes crashed at Framsden and Crettingham, UK. With 391BS. Pilot: McCutchan. No Missing Air Crew Report. All Killed. Plane salvaged 26-3-45.
KIA McCUTCHAN HUGH H (P) 2 LT O-833338
KIA HOLT JAMES A (CP) 2 LT O-206431
KIA BOWERS JULIUS H (N) F/O T-134854
KIA SHEETZ PAUL E (Tog) SGT 19206188
KIA SERVO BERT W (R) SGT 391 12227238 NY
KIA DALTON THOMAS J (E) SGT 16145958
KIA LAMKIN JOHN B (BG) SGT 16219524
KIA ARMSTRONG HOWARD J (WG) SGT 391 36866087 MI
KIA MELTZ IRWIN (TG) SGT 34793201
ARMSTRONG HOWARD J is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, B-3-4. (or dod of 25 Mar 1945)
SERVO BERT W is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, B-2-4.
NOTE: From the files of Walter Sturdivan, quoted from MM, September 2004, p. 11. "On this date (March 26, 1945), B-17 43-38402 was lost due to weather conditions, which at times was our worst enemy while flying combat in WWII. Upon returning from an operational mission, our group encountered inclement weather and the 34th Group leader instructed the squadron leader to peel off the aircraft on top of the cloud layer and make an SOP instrument let down on Buncher 19. At approximately 1802 hours an explosion was seen from Control Tower at Station 156, followed closely by a second explosion. Investigation revealed one aircraft to be 43-38402, piloted by Lt. H. H. McCutchan, and the other aircraft was identified as one from the 452nd Bomb Group, AAF Station 142, at Deophen Green. The two aircraft collided in mid-air about 8 miles southwest of our station; All personnel of both aircraft were killed. Responsibility was blamed 100% on weather."
Crew members of the 452nd BG B-17 were as follows, but crew positions are not known:
Danner, Melvin I. Jr. F/O KIA
Daugherty, Charles Jr. 2 Lt KIA
Dawson, Joseph F. Jr. S/Sgt KIA
Elgin, Charles L. T/Sgt KIA
Lewis, Hardin G. S/Sgt KIA
Porter, Arlin L. Lt KIA
Shirk, Norman M. T/Sgt KIA
Yeaney, Harry F. S/Sgt KIA
Young, William 2 Lt KIA