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42-102672

B-17 Flying Fortress

Delivered Cheyenne 24/3/44; Hunter 9/4/44; Dow Fd 29/4/44; Assigned 533BS/381BG [VP- Ridgewell 21/5/44; Missing in Action Dessau 30/5/44 with Merrill Burton, Co-pilot: Dave Bredeson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Eylens, Ball turret gunner: Ralph Powell (4 Killed in Action); Navigator: Alvin Berry (Wounded in Action), tog-Sgt Bob Hammond (Wounded in Action), Radio Operator: Jim Marbry, Waist gunner: Vic Pillotmia, Tail gunner: Bob Hittel (5 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, set wing afire between #3 and #4, ship exloded before all could bail out, crashed between Werderhausen and Piethen, 17 miles SW of Dessau, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 5233. OL' SWAYBACK.

Service

Units

  • 381st Bomb Group

    381st Bomb Group

    Group
    The 381st Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Ridgewell, Essex between June 1943 and April 1945. The Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for bombing shipyards at Bremen, whilst under heavy attack, on 8 October 1943 and...

  • 533rd Bomb Squadron

    533rd Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Alvin Berry

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier/Navigator | 381st Bomb Group
    Shot down 30 May 1944 in B-17 #42102672. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • David Bredeson

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 381st Bomb Group
    Shot down 30 May 1944 in B-17 #42102672. Killed in Action (KIA). PH

  • Merril Burton

    Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 381st Bomb Group
    Shot down 30 May 1944 in B-17 #42102672. Killed in Action (KIA). PH

  • John Eylens

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
    Shot down 30 May 1944 in B-17 #42-102672, Killed in Action (KIA). Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters /Purple Heart

  • Robert Hammond

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator, Togglier | 381st Bomb Group
    Original Radio operator, Perot crew. 381st BG, 533rd BS, 8th AF. Togglier, Burton crew. Shot down 30 May 1944 in B-17 #42-102672 Ol' Swayback'. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Robert Hittel

    Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
    January - May 1944. Shot down 30 May 1944 in B-17 #42102672. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • James Marbry

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 381st Bomb Group
    December 1943 - May 1944. Shot down 30 May 1944 in B-17 #42102672. Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Victor Pillot

    Military | Ball Turret Gunner, Waist Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
    Burton, M. Crew

  • Ralph Powell

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 381st Bomb Group
    Shot down 30 May 1944 in B-17 #42102672. Killed in Action (KIA). PH

Places

  • Ridgewell

    Military site : airfield
    Built during 1941-42 as an RAF bomber station, Ridgewell operated as a satellite to RAF Stradishall until May 1943. It had three concrete runways, initially 36 pan hardstandings, and two dispersed T2 hangars. Taken over by the Eighth Air Force in June...

Events

Event Location Date
Failed to Return (FTR) Germany 30 May 1944
Nicknames
Ol' Swayback
Production block number
B-17G-55-BO Fortress
Manufacturer
Boeing
Markings and paint scheme/livery
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
29 May 2020 04:01:04 jmoore43 Changes to description
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Added "()" around the words "Wounded in Action" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:40:11 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 5233 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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