...another of the greatest generation gone today

[Oscar Duck]

My father-in-law SSgt Edward Potocki died today. Ed was a flight engineer on B-17's with 815th BS 483rd BG. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being seriously wounded over Italy in 1944.

His two aircraft were B-17G 42-32023 "Flak Happy" exchanged with 416th BS 99th BG B-17F a/c 42-5418 Chief Wahoo 97th BG no Sqdn #. Assigned 20 Jan 43.Transfer
to 99 BG 14 Nov 43; flew 27 missions with 99 BG ; Transfer to 483rd BG 31 Mar 44. MIA Milan 30 Apr 44.... 815 Sq..damaged by flak.and attacked by fighters; two engines out,crashed near Vanette; Hilmer Landholt crew; Daniels; Kleiner; Bowles; Landwehr; Altgelt; Gatch; Conn; Davis ; Goddard.
Altgelt, Goddard evade to Switzerland ; Rest POW. (MACR 4612).

German shoot down report:

The diary of Stab/JG 77 for 28 April says this:

1328–1454 hours: 5 Bf109 of Stab JG77 scramble. Take-off order from Jafü. Gruppe and Stab directed to the BOLOGNA area. The order to land ensued since the hostiles came no further north.
_________________

30.04.44 Uffz. Eberhard Lang: 3 2./JG 77 B-17 £ 30 km. S.W. Padua: 7.000 m. 11.57 Film C. 2027/I Anerk: Nr.141




A/C 42-32023 Flak Happy 483 BG 815 Sq Original a/c. Transfer to 99 BG
31 Mar 44. To US 19 Jun 47.

A/C 42-32023 Flak Happy transfer from 483 BG 31 MAr 44; flew 87 missions ; copilot Bentley from 483rd BG flew on the 5 apr 44 mission. Eadie and Wood WIA 23 Jun 44; Transfer to depot 5 Feb 45 ; To US 19 Jun 47.


This is from "The Flying Fortress Story" by Roger Freeman and David Osborne.

a/c 42-5418 Del Tulsa 3/2/42; West Palm Beach 9/1/43; ass 97th BG Biskra
20/1/43 ; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43 ; Pont-du-Fahs 1/8/43 ;Depienne 15/6/43 ; tran 99 BG 346BS/99BG Oudna 14/11/43 ; (27m/99) ; 815BS/483BG Tortorella
31/3/44 ; MIA Milan 30/4/44 ; w/Landholt ; flak & e/a ; cr Vanette ; 8POW.2 EVD to Switz. MACR 4612 ; CHIEF WAHOO.

A/C 42-32023 Del Cheyenne 14/1/44 ; Kansas City 1/2/44 ; McDill 5/2/44 ; Morrison 9/3/44 ; ass 815BS/483BG ; Tortorella 12/3/44 ;tran 416BS/99BG
31/3/44 (87m) ;Ret US 121 BU Bradley 6/6/45 ;4104 BU Rome 28/6/45 ;Chanute
12/10/45 ;4168 BU Sth Plains 17/12/45 ;4136 BU Tinker 8/12/46 ; 4104 BU Rome
31/12/45 ; Recl Comp 19/6/47 FLAK HAPPY

Wally Forman's "B-17 Nose Art Name Directory" lists Chief Wahoo as ;
a/c 42-5418 97 BG no Sq No photo
a/c 42-5418 99 BG 346 BS No photo
a/c 42-5418 483 BG 815 BS No photo

a/c 42-32023 99 BG 416 BS No Photo
Chief Wahoo Cartoon
a/c 42-32023 483 BG 815 BS No Photo



Ed also served the nation with NASA and Martin as well as GE ...


RIP

[Robbie Stuart]

So sorry to hear of your loss O.D.. It is true we will never know a generation of such men again. May he rest in peace, & my condolences to you all.
Robbie

[mustangdriver]

Sorry about your loss, the men of this generation are leaving us very fast.

[bipe215]

Sorry about your father-in-law. My Dad was a fellow 483rd/816th member.

Steve G

[Andy in West Oz]

My condolences to your family, OD.

[Paul Krumrei]

Thank you for posting that. Bless your F.I.L God Speed.

[JDK]

Hi Oscar,

I know he meant a lot to you, for the right reasons, and you cherished that connection, as we discussed before. At least you got to know him, and he you; and I know with your efforts he will not be forgotten.

My condolences to you and your family at this tough time.

Regards

[Oscar Duck]

Gents

Any pics of Ed's aircraft would be appreciated. I'm flying to USA Sunday for his funeral back home to Oz Tuesday...

PS: Some pics of my Spitfire rebuild are on the way..