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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