42-31173 MAID TO PLEASE

Maid to Please at her crash site, Hénonville, France – December 30, 1943. First combat loss of the 447th.

B-17G-5-BO 42-31173

710th SQ

42-31173, Maid to Please, was one of the original Harvard planes, ferried to Rattlesden in November 1943 by the Beaty crew.  It flew only a single combat mission, being the first aircraft lost in action for the group with the Schrero crew on board.

 

Flight listings for 42-31173

These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.

447th Mission (Date) Target Pilot Notes
#2 (30-Dec-43) Ludwigshafen, Germany Schrero, J. Y. MISSING

 

The official report on the mission made the following notation:

Airplane #173, pilot, Lt. J. Y. Schrero, was seen to go down under control 30 miles northeast of Paris, evidently as the result of a flak burst with one or more engines smoking badly.

More details of Ludwigshaven mission, 12/30/43

 

As listed in MACR 1770, A/C 42-31173 Maid to Please

Pilot 2Lt Julian Y. Schrero KIA
Copilot 2Lt Mehle L. Kent POW
Navigator 2Lt Joseph J. Lamansky KIA
Bombardier 2Lt Lowell A. Doan KIA
Top Turret T/Sgt Howard B. May POW
Radio Operator T/Sgt Dee L. Troxell KIA
Ball Turret S/Sgt John Bitzer POW
Left Waist S/Sgt Herman F. Holland POW
Right Waist S/Sgt Homer L. Miller POW
Tail Gunner S/Sgt Walter E. Dickerman EVD

 

From Combat Diary – Capt. Edward Beaty

Briefed at 4:30 a.m. Attempted take off to Ludwigshaven. Assigned an unoperational 873 ship and did not get off. One ship lost on mission, my own 173, “Maid To Please,” flown by Lt. Shero on her first raid.

 

A monument marks the spot today
Dedication ceremonies in France 2005

 

Combat Diary- Edward Beaty

 

 


 

Combat Missions (previously compiled)

Date Target Pilot
12/30/1943  Ludwigshaven Schrero

 

 


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