Warbird Information Exchange

Looking for photos or information on the B-17's that my father-in-law, SSGT Ed Potocki, flew with the 815th BS 483rd BG[H] in Italy in 1944. His first ship was B-17G 42-30232 "Flak Happy" which was exchanged with 99th BG for B-17F 42-5418 "Chief Wahoo". The Chief had served with 97th BG as well as 99th BG and was lost over Milan 30th April 44. Ed was WIA in this acft the day before over Piombano. Italy.

O.D.
I have in a book a photo of B-17, 42-30367,
337BS, 96BG "Flak Happy"
Sounds like a different a/c but if interested
let me know an e-mail address.

Bill

Hi Bill,

Tks. my email address is pasadena@powerup.com.au

Names like Flak Happy seem to be very common and used by a number of crews on different acft at the same or different times. I guess they didn't keep a register...haha.

My father-in-law says he was just happy to be alive. He was posted MIA for 24 hrs so the telgram went out only to be changed to WIA and a Purple Heart.

Many years ago I took a ferry to Corsica from Piombino, asmall port on the Tyrrhenian coast, near Livorno (Leghorn to older Brits) and later flew over it in my famous Starfighter flight.

Could Piombano actually be Piombino? If I remember correctly. the town also has some industrial activity (steelworks?) which could have made it a wartime target.

Gregory

Bill
My uncle was the c/p on 42-30367 when it was shot down on a raid to Bremen, Ger. This was on Oct 8,1943.

You said you had a book with a photo of 42-30367. I would love to have a copy of this. Can you help?

Thanks
Raif Smith
rsmith77781@houston.rr.com

OD,

Do you have the 'Heroes of the 483rd' book or CD?

Steve G

This is from "The B-17Flying Fortess Story" by Roger A. Freeman,

B-17 42-5418
Del Tulsa 3/12/42; West Palm Beach 9/1/43; ass 97BG Biskra 20/1/43; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43; Pont-du-Fahs1/8/43; Depienne 15/8/43; tran 346BG/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, 8 POW, 2 EVD to Switz., MACR 4612. CHIEF WAHOO

B-17 42-30232,
Del. Cheyenne 3/5/43; ass 100BG Gore 18/5/43; Patterson 13/6/43; tran 1st Map Gp Bolling 4/7/43; Bradley 17/8/43; ass Accra, Gold Coast 21/12/43; ret US 1st Ph Gp MacDill 2/4/44; 4100 BU Patterson20/4/44; 1103 BUMorrison 2/2/45; 91st Ph Sq Buckley 5/2/45; Mapping Trinidad 1/6/46; WO 24/6/46

B-17 42-30367
Del Cheyenne; Gore 1/6/43; Smoky Hill 2/6/43; Gr Isle 4/6/43; Dow Fd 27/6/43; ass 337BS/96BG {AW-Y} Snetterton 1/7/43; MIA Bremen 8/10/43 w/Bolstad; e/a cr Bremen; 7 KIA, 3 POW; MACR 852, FLAK HAPPY


Regards,
Mike