B-17G-105-BO 43-39029
710 th SQ — N
Photo taken between February and May, 1945
A B-17G-105-BO from Seattle, delivered to the USAAF on 11 November 1944, the record of this aircraft is incomplete and confused. Apparently she was assigned to the 388th Bomb Group, and later transferred to the 447th at an unknown date. She was given the call sign “N” with the 708th Squadron, but may have also carried the call sign “E” with the 710th. There are no photographs showing this later configuration.
Her disposition is also in question — Freeman states in B-17 Flying Fortress Story that she was returned to the U.S. and scrapped at Kingman, while Paul Andrews’ Mighty Eighth Bits & Pieces Project lists her as being designated for salvage in August 1945, but not as part of the Reclamation Finance Corporation inventory.
Flight listings for 43-39029
These lists are NOT limited to officially credited Combat missions, and may include Aborts, returns and non-takeoff occurrences as well.
In the photo above, taken sometime after February 1945, the aircraft still carries the Square-H of the 388th Bomb Group on the wing, but has the Square-K of the 447th on the tail. The name Linda Sue has not yet been painted on her nose. Mission tally is 20 or less.
Over target, around the same date as the photo above.
Caption from Linda Danner Quebe (daughter of Co-Pilot Robert Danner) indicates this salvo of bombs was to extend the range to friendly territory.
On the ground at Rattlesden, after 39 missions
On 14 April 1945, Lt. Ernest Gulick landed Linda Sue near Lonrai, France while returning from a mission to the Royan area. There is little mention of the event in group records. It is assumed that crew and aircraft returned to base. The two photos below were taken by the French, and only recently sent to Mr. Keller.
The note posted below the chin turret looks to read in French: ‘Caution! Gasoline.’
A French civilian with 43-39029
Handwritten caption on reverse: ‘B-17, 339029, in France. Place?’ Note that there is a man posing under the chin turret.
Nichole Soto sent this description provided by cousin Lt. Col Robert Loyd:
Robert Danner completed a total of 36 missions, including a mission when he had to land in France. Loss of engine power prevented him from being able to stay with the formation. He salvoed his bombs to extend his range to friendly territory. They were jumped by a German Me 262 jet fighter. The jet dove in from behind and only got a few shots off before it was too close. The pilot did not dive away to set up for another pass. Instead he flew under the B-17 and pulled up in front. The belly turret gunner radioed the nose gunner to line up low and open fire. The 50-cal. bullets ripped the wing off the jet. Linda Sue was one of the first bombers in history to shoot down a jet. Robert Danner was never able to confirm if it was the first. They later landed safely in France as previously mentioned where they were welcomed warmly, were fed and cared for by the French people until they could return to England.
43-39029 later returned to Rattlesden and was ultimately scrapped at Kingman Arizona in 1946
Linda Danner Quebe, eldest daughter of Co-Pilot Robert Danner, sent this description of how 43-39029 got its name:
My father and Earnest Gulick were pilots together on the Linda Sue. That name raised from both wives being pregnant at the same time. I was born March 1945, but Earnest had a son (Matthew Curtis Gulick) born May 1945. They both thought they would have daughters but Earnest’s did not have his daughter Sue until 1948. That is how the Linda Sue was “born”
Some photos and information courtesy:
- Mr. Jack D. Keller
- Mr. Rob Kirkwood
- Nichole Soto / Lt. Col Robert Loyd
- Linda Danner Quebe, eldest daughter of Co-Pilot Robert Danner
Some information and/or images sourced from the American Air Museum database