Miss Ponca City B17 42-97180

[Kirk]

Everyone,

My uncle, Robert Appell, was the tail gunner on B-17 42-97180 Miss Ponca City. 306th BG / 423rd BS. He was of only one of three who survived. Captain was Marvin Freeman. They were shot down 12 September 1944 near Eberswalde, Germany at approximately 11:30am by two FW190's. MACR 8832. They were apart of the 40th "A" High group. Have found info of five German FW190 pilots who have confirmed B17 kills for that day and location per the website Kracker Luftwaffe Archives. Another piece of evidence I've found is that FW190 pilot Adolf Hengge, one of the five, had a confirm at 11:28, location and altitude. I'm just trying to find and maybe confirm which pilot it may be, but understand that may be impossible. Considering the chaos and confusion of those moments. The MACR provides good info, but the handwriting of notes in various areas of the reports can be a little difficult to decipher. Most likely do to the age and re-copying of the reports. Any further advice or where to continue searching would be greatly appreciated. Also, I have the crew picture in front of a B17, but also looking to see if there may be other pictures of Miss Ponca City itself. Unfortunately, she was only in theater for a few months. Shot down on it's fifth mission. Thank you for any help or guidance.

 

[mjfur]

MACR - it's copied in reverse. Page 33 is the beginning. The notes are pretty easy to read.

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91060626?objectPage=33

 

[stonecutter2]

Hello! Interesting that I just found this, I was looking online to see any information around the grave of Marvin W. Freeman, who is buried near my home in Bloomington IL.

I'm planning on cleaning up his headstone a bit soon, and as part of that, I try to read up on whatever I can find for those who I'm caring for.

His stone reads:

Marvin W. Freeman
Illinois
2D LIEUT 306 AAF BOMB GP
WORLD WAR II
May 18 1921 Sept 12 1944

Appreciate the link above with information and other details provided above.

 

[stonecutter2]

Everyone,

My uncle, Robert Appell, was the tail gunner on B-17 42-97180 Miss Ponca City. 306th BG / 423rd BS. He was of only one of three who survived. Captain was Marvin Freeman. They were shot down 12 September 1944 near Eberswalde, Germany at approximately 11:30am by two FW190's. MACR 8832. They were apart of the 40th "A" High group. Have found info of five German FW190 pilots who have confirmed B17 kills for that day and location per the website Kracker Luftwaffe Archives. Another piece of evidence I've found is that FW190 pilot Adolf Hengge, one of the five, had a confirm at 11:28, location and altitude. I'm just trying to find and maybe confirm which pilot it may be, but understand that may be impossible. Considering the chaos and confusion of those moments. The MACR provides good info, but the handwriting of notes in various areas of the reports can be a little difficult to decipher. Most likely do to the age and re-copying of the reports. Any further advice or where to continue searching would be greatly appreciated. Also, I have the crew picture in front of a B17, but also looking to see if there may be other pictures of Miss Ponca City itself. Unfortunately, she was only in theater for a few months. Shot down on it's fifth mission. Thank you for any help or guidance.

I would very much love to see the crew picture. I have not yet found anything regarding Miss Ponca City.

 

[stonecutter2]

 

[Kirk]

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The crew photo you posted happens to be from my collection or research. Over 20 years ago I reached out to James "Buck Hughes. He was the waist gunner and was believed to still be alive. Unfortunately he had passed a few months prior. My letter to him was received by his wife and she shared that photo and as much info that she had. It happens to be the original. I'm glad you found it online. I've found a ton of info on the crew and missions. Still looking for more pics of crew and of their B17.
Thank you for cleaning the headstone. His family is all passed. Capt Freeman had quite the life prior to WWII. More than happy to share what I have if you'd like to share contact info. On a side note, my wife is from Bloomington and I lived there for five years. We still go back quite often.

 

[stonecutter2]

The crew photo you posted happens to be from my collection or research. Over 20 years ago I reached out to James "Buck Hughes. He was the waist gunner and was believed to still be alive. Unfortunately he had passed a few months prior. My letter to him was received by his wife and she shared that photo and as much info that she had. It happens to be the original. I'm glad you found it online. I've found a ton of info on the crew and missions. Still looking for more pics of crew and of their B17.
Thank you for cleaning the headstone. His family is all passed. Capt Freeman had quite the life prior to WWII. More than happy to share what I have if you'd like to share contact info. On a side note, my wife is from Bloomington and I lived there for five years. We still go back quite often.

Oh that's wonderful to have made some contact and preserved some information. I came across a few different things for sure just by spending a little time. I find it a wonderful way to honor those who are gone, and help keep their memories alive. The internet makes it so easy these days, but all of it is carried on the shoulders of folks like you who put forth so much effort.

I hope you don't mind that I've used that picture a bit, it's really an amazing photo of the crew.

I would love to find out more about Marvin Freeman, I gathered what I could from sources online. What a treasure to have made contact with Mr Hughes' wife. I can private message you my info if you'd like to share more.

Here is a picture from something that has the B17...not actual B17, but looks like from after the war bond drive when they met the goal. Much of what I have, I'm sure you've seen before. I'm not certain of that tail number, and the design looks rather generic, possibly for war time reasons.

 

[stonecutter2]

Before and after my work today doing some cleaning. The D/2 solution will continue to clean the headstone over the next several weeks.

 

[Kirk]

Oh that's wonderful to have made some contact and preserved some information. I came across a few different things for sure just by spending a little time. I find it a wonderful way to honor those who are gone, and help keep their memories alive. The internet makes it so easy these days, but all of it is carried on the shoulders of folks like you who put forth so much effort.

I hope you don't mind that I've used that picture a bit, it's really an amazing photo of the crew.

I would love to find out more about Marvin Freeman, I gathered what I could from sources online. What a treasure to have made contact with Mr Hughes' wife. I can private message you my info if you'd like to share more.

Here is a picture from something that has the B17...not actual B17, but looks like from after the war bond drive when they met the goal. Much of what I have, I'm sure you've seen before. I'm not certain of that tail number, and the design looks rather generic, possibly for war time reasons.

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