B-17 #42-97938 "Twan-n-g-g"

Posted:
By: Don Skinner
On: 09/30/2009

According to mission records, this aircraft crash-landed on return from mission to Munster on 28 Oct 1944, and was badly damaged and salvaged.
The mission records also state the same-named, same serial number, same squadron code flew on a mission to Frankfort on 5 Nov 1944 crewed by Lt. A.F. Bloetscher.
Was the aircraft salvaged at the time of the crash or at a later date? Can anyone explain this situation? Thank you.

Re: B-17 #42-97938 "Twan-n-g-g"

Posted:
By: Donald Byers
On: 09/30/2009

I am going to say it is error either by Vic Maslen from where the information came from or a data entry error. I will look into it as the newly appointed Group Historian. Thanks for posting this.

Don

Re: B-17 #42-97938 "Twan-n-g-g"

Posted:
By: Donald Byers
On: 09/30/2009

Ok I didn't have to look too far but the Bloetscher crews co-pilot W.H. McElvain son happens to be my friend and he has researched his dads missions and on my paper copy of this crew he has it marked out with a different AC Serial Number. Now I will contact him and find out how he know this.

Thanks
Don Byers
Group Historian

Re: B-17 #42-97938 "Twan-n-g-g"

Posted:
By: Scott McElvain
On: 10/01/2009

I always assumed that my dad's crew flew the SC-S replacement airplane for "Twan-n-g-g" since it had gone down the previous month.