43-38245

B-17G-80-BO 43-38245

 

Delivered Cheyenne 12/7/44; Hunter 20/7/44; Presque Is 31/7/44; Assigned 711BS/447BG [IR- ] Rattlesden 2/8/44

 

Flight listings for 43-38245

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
#131 (24-Aug-44) Brux, Czechoslovakia Leach, D. W.  
#135 (30-Aug-44) Bremen, Germany Leach, D. W.  
#137 (03-Sep-44) Brest, France Leach, D. W.  
#138 (05-Sep-44) Brest, France Leach, D. W.  
#139 (08-Sep-44) Mainz, Germany Leach, D. W.  
#140 (09-Sep-44) Besancon, France Barton, H. B.  
#141 (10-Sep-44) Giebelstadt, Germany Barton, H. B.  
#142 (11-Sep-44) Fulda, Germany Pattee, D. G. Leaflets
#144 (13-Sep-44) Stuttgart, Germany Helms, E. T.  
#145 (17-Sep-44) Arnheim, Holland Phillips, L.  
#147 (22-Sep-44) Kassel, Germany Helms, E. T.  
#148 (25-Sep-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany Ungar, M. L. slated #882
#149 (26-Sep-44) Bremen, Germany Helms, E. T.  
#150 (27-Sep-44) Ludwigshafen, Germany Helms, E. T.  
#151 (28-Sep-44) Merseburg, Germany Helms, E. T.  
#152 (02-Oct-44) Kassel, Germany Leach, C. T. CRASHED; KIA

 

During assembly for Kassel 2/10/44) 43-38245 with Clifford Leach crew aboard, had a mid-air collision with 44-6460 with the William M. Wilder crew aboard; crashed Hitcham, UK; 17 men killed. Salvaged.

Clifford T. Leach crew aboard 43-38245

Capt Cliff Leach Pilot KIA
Dave Bowen Co-Pilot KIA
Don Rubin Navigator KIA
Bill Rogers Bombardier KIA
Earl Riggs Top Turret Gunner KIA
Clyde Klee Radio Operator KIA
Bill Haines Ball Turret Gunner KIA
John Henry Waist Gunner KIA
Carl Reitzel Jr. Tail Gunner KIA

William M. Wilder crew aboard 44-6460

Lt. W. Wilder Pilot KIA
Lt. N. Manock Co-Pilot KIA
Lt. E. Mishler Navigator  
Lt. C. McGuire Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt W. Easkins Top Turret Gunner KIA
T/Sgt C. Genova Radio Operator KIA
S/Sgt E. Suarez Ball Turret Gunner KIA
S/Sgt T. Wiltse Waist Gunner KIA
S/Sgt H. Lee Tail Gunner KIA

 

 

Clyde R. Klee; Radio Operator aboard 43-38245 in the collision, KIA

 

Maddingley Cemetery, United Kingdom, Clyde R Klee, 447th BG, (B-17 Radio-Operator/Waist Gunner was killed in a mid-air collision between two aircraft while departing Rattlesden Airfield on a combat mission over Germany. He was twenty-two years old and had flown over 20 combat missions.

 

 

 

 


Some photos/information provided by:

  • Hal Kiena

Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database