Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

B-17G-90-BO Flying Fortress

s/n 43-38633

524th BS, 379th BG, 8th AF

2nd Lt. Newton W. Kerr - Pilot (right) talks to 2nd Lt. Lewis H. Maynard (left), a P-47 pilot with Air-Sea Rescue (5th Emergency Rescue Squadron). Lt. Maynard had just led Lt. Kerr back across the Channel to land at Woodbridge.

 

While on the January 28,1945 mission to Cologne the plane took a hard flak hit in the right wing, knocking out the #3 engine and setting the feeder tank on fire. The fire quickly spread across the wing and back to the horizontal stabilizer. After diving to try and put the fire out was unsuccessful Lt. Kerr ordered the crew to bail out while he stayed with the plane to keep it under control till they got out. Once the crew was out safely He dove again and the fire was getting under control, though he couldn't go any higher than 10,000 feet. He followed the formation as well as he could by himself till he got to the coast. He then called Air-Sea Rescue and had a P-47 lead him back to England and landed safely.

MACR 12294

 

2nd Lt. Newton W. Kerr - Pilot (RTD) O-811214

..... Lakeside,Ohio

2nd Lt. Harry D. Kinder - CoPilot (POW) O-781333

..... Los Angeles,California

2nd Lt. Henry H. Wenger - Navigator (POW) O-2071764

..... Tennessee

Sgt. Carl L. Funderburg - Togglier (POW) 18183346

..... Texas

Sgt. John B. Petraitis - Radio Operator (KIA) 11082018

..... Massachusetts

Sgt. Andrew J. Haecheel - Engineer/Top Turret Gunner (POW) 37568273

..... Sheridan Park,Washington

Sgt. George P. Weiner - Ball Turret Gunner (POW) 33799179

..... Philadelphia,Pennsylvania

Sgt. Joseph L. Marsico - Waist Gunner (POW) 33597804

..... Old Forge,Pennsylvania

S/Sgt. John E. Ingram - Tail Gunner (POW 36688530

..... Jewett,Illinois

Done