Thursday, November 6, 2014

Boeing B-17F, 42-30191


Boeing B-17F-90, s/n 42-30191, "the Bolevich", 525th Bombardment Squadron, 379th Bombardment Group, England, 1943
 
 
Identified crew
Lt. Donald W. Merchant - pilot (POW) (left, rear)
other crew
Lt. James E Sullivan - co-pilot (POW)
Lt. Ernest K Keith - navigator (POW)
Lt. Leonard J. Roman - bombardier (POW)
T/Sgt. Gene R Hecht - radio operator (KIA)
T/Sgt. Johannes H. Johnson - engineer (POW)
S/Sgt. Robert T. Tonge - ball turret gunner (POW)
T/Sgt. Harold B. Ridgely - right waist gunner (POW)
S/Sgt. Edgar Van Valkenberg - left waist gunner (POW)
S/Sgt. John L. Wierzbanowski - tail gunner (POW)
 
This aircraft was lost on 17 August 1943 when it crash landed near Elfershausen, Germany. All crew bailed out except Lt. Merchant who crash landed the aircraft. T/Sgt. Gene R Hecht was shot by Germans during an escape attempt from an Austrian prison camp.

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