The 483rd Bomb Group Archive

Aircraft

42-5786 Whizzer II

840thlost with the 483rd, 15 April 1944
Type
B-17F-20-VE (Lockheed/Vega)
Names
Whizzer II
Loss
MACR 3909 · mission 3, 15 April 1944
Sources
Association page · American Air Museum · b17flyingfortress.de

Loss and incident records

History

Dates and events from Dave Osborne's B-17 Master Log, as published by b17flyingfortress.de; wording condensed to the facts.

Photographs and loss sheets

These pictures stay on the sites that hold them and are shown here by link only, until their owners say they may be copied.

Statements

Eyewitness statement, page 12 · 15 April 1944
U. S. CONFIDENTIAL equida ARITISO CONFIDENTIAL
840th SQUADRON (H)
483rd BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
A. P. Or, #520
15 April 1946
I was in No. 7 ship of No. 6 Box of which ship No. 786 way flying No.
6 position. The pilot of this airplane was Lt. PRESTON.
As we turnea to the right, apparently anto the target, the flak became
very accurate, and to the best of my knowledge Lt. PRESTON suffered a direct
hit in No. 3 tank which immediately exploded, and at that time the right wing
came off and the plane immediately began a sharp diving turn to the right.
I was forced to dive to the right to avoid being struck by Lit. PRESTONS'
plane, which at the time was burning fieroely. I saw no chutes.
allo a Failu
ARPHA A. FOWLER
let Lt., Air Corps
U. S. CONFIDENTIAL equals BRITISH CONFIDENTIAL

National Archives, MACR 3909, page 12 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Eyewitness statement, page 13 · 15 April 1944
CONFIDENTIAL
84018 EQUADROS (H)
483rd DOMBARDMENT GROUP (E)
A.P.O. 520
15 April 1944
STATRMONT
The ship received a direct hit in the radio room or bomb bays It burst
into flames immediately and the right wing broke off at the inboerd engine.
Immediately thereefter it crumpled amid ship. did a half roll and dove out
of sight cumpletely covered with flames. This is what I saw, and has been
verified by other members of our crow. I saw no chutes leave the plane
Leonard
LEN R: N. KOUTNIK
2nd Lt., Air Corps
st
U. S. CONFIDENJIAL JQUALS TION ourr

National Archives, MACR 3909, page 13 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

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