Wee Willy
Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:59 pm
Lt Fuller and crew 322nd BS 91st BG. Wee Willy was lost to flak on her 128th mission on April 8, 1945.
Last 8th AF B-17 lost.
Fuller and the tail gunner survived.
Brave men all!!!
???
Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:44 pm
Anyone know the mission count for whatever was the high mission b-17?
Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:57 pm
OMG...
Jack, I thought we were doing that "weiner" thing all over again.
Thank Heavens - a picture of an actual combat veteran warbird.
Whew...
Jack, I thought we were doing that "weiner" thing all over again.
Thank Heavens - a picture of an actual combat veteran warbird.
Whew...
Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:03 pm
Hey Jack, wasn't "909" up there?
???
Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:24 pm
I don't know the mission counts but I think the high mission 4 bomber
was a B-24. Although I think some PTO B-17s made it over 150.
was a B-24. Although I think some PTO B-17s made it over 150.
Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:42 pm
Wasn't "Ol Gappy" of the 379th BG the top 17 in the ETO with 157 missions?
Re: Wee Willy
Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:45 pm
Jack Cook wrote:Last 8th AF B-17 lost.
Not the case, unfortunately.
?????
Tue Jul 08, 2008 3:30 pm
Last 91st BG then 
Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:53 pm
Isn't that the same aircraft in the infamous photo of a Fort sprialling down next to its severed wing?
SN
SN
Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:25 pm
Steve Nelson wrote:Isn't that the same aircraft in the infamous photo of a Fort sprialling down next to its severed wing?
SN
That's the one. IIRC, Wee Willie had 128 missions when it went down, which put it right up there with "909" and "Outhouse Mouse" in terms of service with the 91st. Wee Willie was the last B-17 lost by the 91st in combat.
IIRC (again), the last B-17 lost in combat in the ETO was either a 95BG or 390BG bird that was hit by anti-aircraft fire on a Manna-Chowhound mission over Holland.
Re: ?????
Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:42 am
Jack Cook wrote:Last 91st BG then
The last was "Skunk Face III", on 17 April.
http://www.91stbombgroup.com/91st_info/raggedinfo.html
Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:08 am
Steve Nelson wrote:Isn't that the same aircraft in the infamous photo of a Fort sprialling down next to its severed wing?
SN
Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:46 am
Yep..that's the pic. Gotta be one of the scariest photos from the air war. I'm amazed anyone got out at all.
SN
SN
Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:14 am
I always assumed that was a flak hit in the wing root, but looking at this size scan, there must've been a helluva fire before she lost the battle, considering the elevator and rear wing damage.
??
Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:39 am
There's another pic in the series showing just flaming pieces fluttering down 