Warbird Information Exchange

I had a veteran fly with us that said that he was on a B-17 in the 483rd Bomb Group that returned with the most combat damage. True to the fact that the Bomb Group actually built a memorial to honor this event at Warner Robbins. Does anyone have any photos of this aircraft?

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Chris a quick search found a few things here:
http://www.museumofaviation.org/483rd.php
http://www.flickriver.com/places/Italy/ ... ne/search/

483rd BG records

•Participating in the First Task Force Shuttle Mission to Russia

• Most enemy aircraft destroyed by a B-17 on one mission by one crew (13)

• Most Me-262 jets destroyed on one mission by one crew (3)

•Most Me-262 jets destroyed by one gunner on one mission (2)

•The B-17 with the greatest number of holes from combat action to return to an operating base (total 30,748)

•The most decorated combat crew for one mission in Air Force history where each of 10 crew members was awarded a Silver Star, and four wounded members, the Purple Heart Medal.

•The most jets destroyed by one Group during the entire war (7)

_________________
Zero Surprise!!...

Chris,

My Dad was 483rd and I believe the ship in question broke upon landing, basically sagging in the middle. I think it was the one with the record number of holes in it. I have a couple of 483rd books but I'm traveling tonight and this weekend.
If you don't get an answer I'll try to find some pics first of the week.

Steve

Thanks alot! I would love to hear what you can find!

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

My late father-in-law SSGT Edward Potocki was a flight engineer with 815th BS 483rd BG in early 1944 was part of the original cadre having trained in Georgia/Florida [The Memphis Belle was a trainer in the original group of three B-17's assigned to 815th BS subsequently they were issues with new B-17G's and off to war!]

His first aircraft was "Flak Happy" then "Chief Wahoo" see below for details:

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).

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

Found out a little more. 816 Squadron. It was the Robert P Goesling crew on 42-32111. July 14, 1944 mission to strike an oil refinery in Budapest. The 10 Siver Stars and 4 Purple Hearts represent the most decorations for one mission/ crew in Air Force history. Believed to be the only aircraft in a Air Force history with more than 30,000 holes to return to base and land safely.

http://m.imgur.com/AG5DPKU

I'll try to scan more info at work tomorrow

Steve