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