B17 Flying Fortress Crash Landing Then and Now

Описание: B-17G Heavens Above/Panhandle Kid from the 561st BS of the 388th BG crashed on the 28th September 1944 at Bra in the Ardennes region of Belgium.

After hitting it’s assigned target at Merseburg it was damaged in two engines and was skilfully landed by its pilot Elroy Gierach. The crew survived and returned to Knettishall to resume their tour of duty.

The B-17 would remain where it landed for many months and would prove a focal point for the paratroopers of the 504th PIR manning the line near the village of Bra in later December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge.

The crew of B-17G 42-102434 Heaven's Above/Panhandle Kid:

Pilot: Elroy Gierach: Co-pilot: Percy Mead, Navigator: Harry Hobbs, Bombardier: Milton Gunnarson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Smith, Radio Operator: Martin Krey, Ball turret gunner: Daryl Daugherty, Waist gunner: Jim Hyde,Tail gunner: Jim Hodgin

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