Press Photo Airplane B-17 Crash KIA Friendly Fire Bomb 8th AF 94th BG 331st RARE for Sale

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Press Photo Airplane B-17 Crash KIA Friendly Fire Bomb 8th AF 94th BG 331st RARE For Sale

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Press Photo Airplane B-17 Crash KIA Friendly Fire Bomb 8th AF 94th BG 331st RARE:
$450.00

This listing is for a rare and original WWII press photo.

This remarkable series of photographs was taken during a bombing run on May 19, 1944 over Berlin. It shows a mishap which occurred when the bombs from one Flying Fortress struck and damaged one of the horizontal stabilizers of the tail of a B-17which was beneath it. In this photo bombs are seen dropping toward the Fortress. The first bomb is about to strike the left stabilizer. The stabilizer dangles from the plane after having been struck by the bomb. Since the preceding photograph was taken, two more bombs have dropped from the bomb bays of the photographer\'s Fortress. The damaged B-17is also dropping its explosive load. Despite its damaged tail surfaces, the B-17continues on its course. The bomb which struck the stabilizer was deflected by the impact and can be seen, pointed in a different direction from its companions, silhouetted against the clouds. The B-17 went straight down and crashed, with all crew lost.

The B-17 pictured was \"Miss Donna Mae II\", s/n 42-31540 94th Bomb Group; 331st Bomb Squadron. T

he plane dropping the bombs was \"Trudy\", s/n 42-97791. May 19, 1944.

The entire crew of Miss Donna Mae II was killed.

MACR witness statment:

This aircraft was hit by a 1000 lb. bomb from an aircraft flying overhead in our high squadron. The tail section of this aircraft was broken off and the aircraft went down in what appeared to be a straight nose dive. One wing was observed to fall off when the aircraft was about 13,000 feet. Two (2) chutes were observed. This accident occurred directly over the target on signal of bombs away.

The crew:

Pilot1LT Marion Ulysses Reid (new replacement pilot)

Co-Pilot2LT Lewis T Carter

Bombardier2LT Stanley David Duffield

Navigator2LT Roger Francis Tessier

Radio OperatorSSGT John F. Boone

Ball Turret GunnerSSGT Ludwig Herman Huth

Tail GunnerSSGT Willard Melvin Christensen

Waist GunnerSSGT Richard Edward Brennan

Waist GunnerSSGT James Andrew Kalahar

Top Turret GunnerTSGT Lee Zane Kieffer

ObserverTSGT John Baillie Davis

Boeing B-17Gs/n 42-31540aircraft delivery details: Delivered Cheyenne 16/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Cleveland 9/12/43; Syracuse 11/12/43; Presque Is 15/12/43; Prestwick 19/12/43; Assigned 331BS/94BG [QE-A] Rougham 20/12/43; Missing in Action Berlin 19/5/44

Photographer: The ball turret gunner of the B-17 “Trudy” s/n 42-97791. When they returned the pilots of “Trudy” were court martialled however the photographer proved that Miss Donna Mae was out of position and they were cleared of any wrong doing.

*Please see my other listings for additional Aviation and D Day photos from an extensive collection.

Subject: B-17 crash over Germany

Date: @ May 19, 1944

Condition:Excellent with original newsprint snipe attached.

Size: 8 x 6 inches.