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