Tell me About this B-17 and the photograph itself. Previously belonged to a Lockheed photographer

[MilitaryAttractions]

I met an individual while on vacation in California who gave me this photo. He had said it was taken by his friend who was a WWII Vet and then a photographer after the war who'd spent his career working for Lockheed. (I'm not entirely sure this is correct though because I was able to find this same photo on the internet as well)

Anyways can anyone give me the history about this particular plane serial no. 297991? How about the codes on the backside, what do they mean? ST 7-2711, EXT 8-1815, E-4333, 11-21, LA5310

Disregard the writing on the front. Ironically, I met a B17 ball turret gunner, Wilmur Richardson, the following day at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino and had him autograph the photo

 

[Snautzer01]

Production block number
B-17G-40-VE Fortress
Manufacturer Lockheed
97991 (305th BG, 366th BS) lost over Merseburg, Germany Oct (must be aug) 24, 1944. MACR 8207

#42-97991 - B-17G
Group Squadron Sq Code A/C Code
305BG 366BS

MIA 1944-08-24 - MACR #: 8207
Notes 42-97991 Delivered: Dallas 26/4/44; Langley 26/6/44; Grenier 13/7/44; Assigned: 366BS/305BG Chelveston 9/8/44; MIA Merseburg 24/8/44 Pilot: Roland Heusser, Maj Von Turgeln, Harry James, Aubrey Moultor, Don Soseman, Edwin Johnson, Bob Brownell, Don Powell, Harry Sherrell (9POW); Beverley Hayes, Lt Maurice Thomas {radar nav} (2KIA); flak, crashed Merseburg; MACR 8207.

Mission 568
451 B-17s are dispatched to hit Merseburg oil refinery (185), Weimar
(129) and Kolleda Airfield (30); targets of opportunity hit are airfields at
Goslar (37), Nordhausen (11), Vorden (11) and Stade (2), and Leipzig (10)
plus 7 others; they claim 10-3-3 aircraft; 16 B-17s are lost, 2 damaged
beyond repair and 189 damaged; 3 airmen are KIA, 39 WIA and 148 MIA. Escort
is provided by 121 of 152 P-51s; they claim 4-0-1 aircraft without loss.


book on Merseburg: Merseburg: Blood, Flak & Oil USAAF WWII Bombing Campaign against the Leuna Refinery - World War 2 (WWII) Military History Book

 

[Snautzer01]

Pilot Roland B. Heusser Jr (pilot) was born on nov 29th, 1921 - passed away on march 29th, 1996

Beverly Hayes KIA
HAYES, Beverly A

 

[Wurger]

 

[Snautzer01]

The waist gun positions have been sealed to decrease drag and retain heat during the long ferry flight (also in the b/w picture)

 

[Wurger]

Nicely done.

 

[Snautzer01]

Interactive map of the day targets of that day: Notice the colossal scale

42-97991 - B-17G

 

[vikingBerserker]

Well done sir!


ST 7-2711 & EXT 8-1815, (I believe are part of the address to Newsbureau)
E-4333: Possibly Article number
11-21: possibly the date (Nov 11th)
LA5310: ???

 

[Mavyryk]

I met an individual while on vacation in California who gave me this photo. He had said it was taken by his friend who was a WWII Vet and then a photographer after the war who'd spent his career working for Lockheed. (I'm not entirely sure this is correct though because I was able to find this same photo on the internet as well)

Anyways can anyone give me the history about this particular plane serial no. 297991? How about the codes on the backside, what do they mean? ST 7-2711, EXT 8-1815, E-4333, 11-21, LA5310

View attachment 462979

View attachment 462980


Disregard the writing on the front. Ironically, I met a B17 ball turret gunner, Wilmur Richardson, the following day at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino and had him autograph the photo

View attachment 462981

So, this post is a little old - but have a picture of #42-297991 that has been matted and framed, reportedly from the former pilot (his son had it and threw it in the trash!!! Along with his log book of 1200 hours). Just got this today, going to start researching ... like I am here. . Also going to try to get the log book, that would be huge!!!

 

[RonH-WA]

Just found these posts. The pilot of the plane was my father. He flew the plane to England and was based in Chelveston. But on that day he was flying with Major Vantungeln, since they were flying deputy lead. My dad's logbook shows him as the pilot. The formation had missed the bombing point and had to fly back to the IP and start the run again. That's when they were hit. The above posts reported that the photo was thrown away, but not by me. They were\ shot down during his 28th mission. Would be very interested in connecting with any relatives of that crew. Thanks