Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

"Beverly Jean" (2G-N)

B-17G-75-BO Flying Fortress

s/n 43-37969

836th BS, 487th BG, 8th AF

Photographed on September 10,1944 mission to Nuremberg,Germany.

 

This aircraft was lost in a mid-air collision while returning from the March 19,1945 mission to Zwickau. Both planes were destroyed, but the crew of "Beverly Jean" were able to parachute to safety while the other crew were trapped inside their plane and killed. The other plane was B-17G-75-BO Flying Fortress (s/n 43-38038) named "Flying Chapel" from the 838th BS, 487th BG, 8th AF.

 

Crew of "Beverly Jean" on last mission:

1st Lt. John R. Virgin - pilot

F/O Charles F. Kappmeyer - copilot

2nd Lt. Henry C. Yawn III - navigator

T/Sgt. William W. Taylor - engineer

T/Sgt. Lincoln R. Heath - radio operator

S/Sgt. Chapin Stebbins - ball turret gunner

S/Sgt. Vernon D. Robinson - waist gunner

S/Sgt. Theodore J. Robinson - tail gunner

T/Sgt. Robert L. Howlett - top turret gunner

 

Crew of "Flying Chapel" on last mission:

2nd Lt. Daniel C. Smoke,Jr. - pilot (KIA)

F/O George H. Pendarvis - copilot (KIA)

F/O Gunnar K. Olsen - navigator (KIA)

2nd Lt. John H. Strong - bombardier (KIA)

Sgt. John White,Jr. - engineer/top turret gunner (KIA)

Sgt. Harold J. Stone - radio operator (KIA)

Sgt. David W. Sala - ball turret gunner (KIA)

Sgt. Elmer E. Koepsell - waist gunner (KIA)

Sgt. Richard E. Burres - tail gunner (KIA)

Done