JohnB wrote:
After seeing one of the photos in the last collection, I posted a copy of the B-17 crew in a Jeep on a Jeep history website.
One of the other readers did the research on the crew and their fate.
He did an excellent job....
Just after the photo was taken on Aug 2, 1944,
I'll Get By was hit by German flak over France.
7 of the crew were killed, three were captured.
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42- ... ll-get-by/There is a monument to the men near the crash site:
https://95thbg.com/cms/2019/7/19/airan-franceThe three survivors were:
Walter J. Collyer, Jr 1925-2001.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the- ... e/3483793/ … his obit:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189 ... es-collyerBarney Lipkin (1920-1986),
https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/peo ... leID=23847Donald W. Phillips (1925-2004), POW.
His obit:
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the- ... 115664219/He wrote this letter to the deceased pilot’s mother:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... r.jpeg.pdfThe crew as seen in the photo...
L to R: S/Sgt William W. Adamson–Waist Gunner; Capt. Elmer E. Bockman–Asst S-3 95th BG; 1Lt Jasper W. Kaylor Jr–Copilot; 1Lt Frank t. Sohm–Bombardier; T/Sgt Oscar C. Walrod–Engineer/Top Turret; T/Sgt Robert V. Hill–Radio Operator; Capt. Robert O. Baber–Pilot; 1Lt Raymond D. Dallas–Navigator; S/Sgt Barney Lipkin–Waist Gunner; S/Sgt Walter J. Collyer Jr–Tail Gunner; S/Sgt Donald W. Phllips–Ball Turret –Photo courtesy of National Archives Note: The 11th man in the crew photograph is not dressed for a combat mission because Command Pilot Bockman replaced him on the mission. S/Sgt. William W. Adamson, waist gunner, joined the official crew photograph even though not flying that day.
I posted that photo thinking it might be of interest for WWII MB/GPW owners would like seeing a rare color shot of a wartime Jeep.
I figured the crew survived the war and went on with their lives. I was shocked when I read what was posted. I never thought most of them would be dead a few hours later.
It's sad that the co-pilot was apparently flying his final mission with a different crew because it was supposed to be a "milk run".
Also, a Captain, a command pilot/staff officer was manning a waist gun. Him taking the mission saved the regular gunner's life.
RIP to them all...
In fact, the plane behind the crew in the jeep is B-17G-40-DL 44-6434, belonging to the 97th Bomb Group, 414th Bomb squadron, 15th AAF, Amendola, Italy.
(pictures from an Ebay auction last year)
The plane in the back ground also shows similar markings on the tail, if the picture is darkened a little bit
Even more interesting, the picture of the crew posing on the wing is the same that the crew in the jeep, and the caption of the "wing picture" gives the names of that crew:
the second officer from the right on the wing picture, (and who is the 6th guy from the left in the jeep), 2nd Lt Norden (the bombardier!!), has the 414th Bomb Squadron insignia on his B-10 Jacket.
I hope pictures of the 95th Bomb Group's 42-102700 will surface one day.
Laurent
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