Questions about the crewmembers of the B-17 42-31975 ”Queen of the air” last flight

[Daniel BASTIEN]

Hello, This picture represents the crewmembers of a 8th​ Air Force B-17. The third from left on the front row is TSgt Dwight E. Suddock. He flew most of his last 19 missions on the B-17 Serial 42-31975 "Queen of the Air" of 510th​ BS, 351th BG, shot down over France by German fighters on mission 373 on May 27, 1944. (Suddock survived). Has anyone ever seen this picture with a legend? Is Staff Sergeant Avondle L. Willhite, who was KIA on this May 27, 1944 mission, on this picture? Is the B-17 in the background the "Queen of the air"?

Best Daniel

 

[Snautzer01]

B-17G Queen of the Air et P-51 43-6653 - Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy le 27 Mai 1944 | Aérostèles

Stèle B-17G Queen of the Air et P-51 43-6653 le 27 Mai 1944. Ban-sur-Meurthe-Clefcy Vosges (88).

www.aerosteles.net

monument for the fallen.

 

[Snautzer01]

shot down by Robert "Bazi"Weiss

Robert Weiß (pilot) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

101st claim ( Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Robert "Bazi"Weiss )
27.5.44/1218
B-17G-35-BO Flying Fortress
20km NW of Colmar @ 7500m
Was this 42-31975/TU- "Queen of the Air" of 510th BS, 351st BG? 1/Lt. Horace E Hopkins and 7 others all KIA, one crewman POW and one evaded capture. Location matches well, but timing is a little out

 

[Daniel BASTIEN]

shot down by Robert "Bazi"Weiss

Robert Weiß (pilot) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

101st claim ( Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Robert "Bazi"Weiss )
27.5.44/1218
B-17G-35-BO Flying Fortress
20km NW of Colmar @ 7500m
Was this 42-31975/TU- "Queen of the Air" of 510th BS, 351st BG? 1/Lt. Horace E Hopkins and 7 others all KIA, one crewman POW and one evaded capture. Location matches well, but timing is a little out

Thank you Snautzer01 ; 2 B-17s were shot down during this mission 373 in the Colmar sector. The "Queen of the air" crashed about 55 km WNW of Colmar,. The other one (42-97149), crashed at Baldenheim, about 25 km NNE of Colmar. I think, but this has to be confirmed, that Weiss rather shot down the second one because, from what we know, the "Queen of the air" had been attacked much further West.

 

[DianaBueno]

Hello! I realize this is an old post, however, I've just recently started doing research for my partner on his Uncle, Everett M. Hale, 2nd Lieutenant, co-pilot, crew member of the Queen of the Air, B-17, 42-31975 that was shot down on May 27, 1944. Lieutenant Hale as the co-pilot of this plane and was KIA when it was shot down. I've attached his photo. I don't recognize him in this photo, however, I'm really bad at recognizing from photos. I hope this help!

 

[mjfur]

While a crew of 10 may have trained together and flew to England together they didn't necessarily complete all of their missions together due to sickness, small injury or leave. Individual crew members could/would be swapped out for different reasons on various missions.

 

[DianaBueno]

Thank you for that information as I had no idea. I appreciate your help!

 

[mjfur]

MACR National Archives NextGen Catalog

This has been scanned in reverse, Page 46 is the beginning.