![B-17G 42-102482, 339th Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group
08 May 1944 crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany after extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick;
from the files of the WolfenButtel, Germany newspaper
42-102482 Del Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Ass 339BS/96BG [QJ-A] Snetterton 8/4/44; MIA Berlin 8/5/44 w/Harry Eye, cp-Leland Baker, btg-Bill Latta[died of wounds in hospital] (3KIA); n-Joe McElroy, b-Carl Thinnes, ettg-Chas Chase, ro-Bill Pierson, wg-W.C. Parnell, wg-Jack McIlraith, tg-Leroy Chamberlain (7POW); e/a, c/l two miles W of Wolfenbuettel, nine miles S of Brunswick, Ger. MACR 4575.](http://americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-18292.jpeg?itok=qVLSV1px)
8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
...
The American Air Museum is Closed
Following recent government announcements the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
42-102482
B-17 Flying Fortress
-
B-17G 42-102482 from the 339th Squadron of the 96th BG - crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany due to extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick - 08 May 1944; from the files of the Wolfenbuttel, Germany newspaper
-
At the Netherlands American Cemetery
-
At Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Glendale, California
-
![B-17G 42-102482, 339th Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group
08 May 1944 crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany after extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick;
from the files of the WolfenButtel, Germany newspaper
42-102482 Del Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Ass 339BS/96BG [QJ-A] Snetterton 8/4/44; MIA Berlin 8/5/44 w/Harry Eye, cp-Leland Baker, btg-Bill Latta[died of wounds in hospital] (3KIA); n-Joe McElroy, b-Carl Thinnes, ettg-Chas Chase, ro-Bill Pierson, wg-W.C. Parnell, wg-Jack McIlraith, tg-Leroy Chamberlain (7POW); e/a, c/l two miles W of Wolfenbuettel, nine miles S of Brunswick, Ger. MACR 4575.](http://americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media/media-18292.jpeg?itok=vo4H0zi0)
B-17G 42-102482, 339th Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group 08 May 1944 crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany after extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick; from the files of the WolfenButtel, Germany newspaper 42-102482 Del Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Ass 339BS/96BG [QJ-A] Snetterton 8/4/44; MIA Berlin 8/5/44 w/Harry Eye, cp-Leland Baker, btg-Bill Latta[died of wounds in hospital] (3KIA); n-Joe McElroy, b-Carl Thinnes, ettg-Chas Chase, ro-Bill Pierson, wg-W.C. Parnell, wg-Jack McIlraith, tg-Leroy Chamberlain (7POW); e/a, c/l two miles W of Wolfenbuettel, nine miles S of Brunswick, Ger. MACR 4575.
-
Jack McIlraith at home in Wausau, Wisconsin. This photo was taken just before the Harold Eye crew left for Europe.
-
B-17G 42-102482 from the 339th Squadron of the 96th BG, crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany due to extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Berlin/Brunswick; photo from the files of the Wolfenbuttel, Germany newspaper
-
The Harold Eye crew of the 339th Squadron, 96th Bomb Group, assigned to B-17G 42-102482; shot down enroute to Berlin/Brunswick on 08 May 1944
-
B-17G 42-102482 from the 339th Squadron of the 96th BG, crash-landed at Fummelse, Germany due to extensive damage from fighter attacks during mission to Brunswick/Berlin - 08 May 1944; photo from files of the Wolfenbuttel, Germany newspaper
Delivered Cheyenne 7/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 339BS/96BG [QJ-A] Snetterton 8/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 8/5/44 with Harry Eye, Co-pilot: Leland Baker, Ball turret gunner: Bill Latta[died of wounds in hospital] (3 Killed in Action); Navigator: Joe McElroy, Bombardier: Carl Thinnes, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Chas Chase, Radio Operator: Bill Pierson, Waist gunner: W.C. Parnell, Waist gunner: Jack McIlraith,Tail gunner: Leroy Chamberlain (7 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crash landed two miles W of Wolfenbuettel, nine miles S of Brunswick, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 4575.
Service
Units
-
-
96th Bomb Group
Group
The 96th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses to targets across occupied Europe from May 1943 to April 1945. ... -
339th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
People
-
Leland Baker
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned to 339BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Berlin in B-17 42-102482. Shot down, crashed west of Wolfenbuettal, Germany. 8-May-44 Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4575 Awards: PH. -
Leroy Chamberlain
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-17 #42102482. Prisoner of War (POW). POW -
Charles Chase
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-17 #42-102482, Prisoner of War (POW). POW -
Harold Eye
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned to 339BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Berlin in B-17 42-102482. Shot down, crashed west of Wolfenbuettal, Germany. 8-May-44 Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4575 Awards: PH. -
William Latta
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Assigned to 339BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Berlin in B-17 42-102482. Shot down, crashed west of Wolfenbuettal, Germany. 8-May-44 Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4575 Awards: PH. -
Joseph McElroy
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-17 #42102482. Prisoner of War (POW). POW -
Jack McIlraith
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Jack McIlraith served as a waist gunner with the 339th Bomb Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group. Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-17 #42102482. Prisoner of War (POW) at Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12. Flew on Harold Eye crew. -
W Parnell
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-17 #42-102482, Prisoner of War (POW). POW -
William Pierson
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-17 #42102482. Prisoner of War (POW). POW -
Carl Thinnes
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 96th Bomb Group
Shot down 8 May 1944 in B-17 #42-102482, Prisoner of War (POW). POW
Places
-
Snetterton Heath
Military site : airfield
Intended to be an RAF bomber base, construction of Snetterton Heath started in Autumn 1942 but continued until mid-1943, because it was extended after allocation as an Eighth Air Force bomber base. It had eventually three concrete runways, 50...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Fümmelse, Wolfenbüttel, Germany | 8 May 1944 |
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 May 2020 07:29:26 | kstrykerAK | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
Snetterton Falcons II: The 96th Bomb Group in World War II by Robert E Doherty & Geoffrey Ward, Second Edition with Errata & Supplemental Information, Taylor Publishing, 1996. pages 137, 146, 293 |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 October 2015 21:11:17 | mmc14 | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
from the son of a crewmember |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:09 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4575 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
||
