About the Airplane

The Missing Air Crew Reports No.
6910
The type of the plane.
B-17G
The plane ID.
42-97165
The name of the plane.
The squadron the bomber belongs to.
32nd Bomb Squadron
The date of the bomber's crash.
1944-07-19
The reason for the bomber's crash.
technischer Fehler
The place the bomber targeted.
München
The place where the bomber crashed.
Lessach
Coordinates of the site the bomber was last seen at.
45°58'N, 12°52'E
The city or village the bomber was last seen at.
Italien
The country or county the bomber was last seen at.
Time of the day the bomber was last seen at.
10:52
Time of the crash.
11:15
Comments.
Das Flugzeug hatte Probleme mit seinem zweiten Triebwerk - ein Ölleck trat auf, was eine Rauchfahne und Geschwindigkeitsverlust verursacht. Die Maschine fiel hinter die Formation zurück. Um 10:32 Uhr machte der Bombenschütze einen Notabwurf der Bomben. Die gesamt Besatzung konnte den Bomber per Fallschirm verlassen.

Map of related places

The Crew

Name Rank Function Destiny
Behrens, Ralph D. T/Sgt Gunner 2 0
Cowen, James W. S/Sgt Gunner 5 Rtd
Crickmer, Edward M. Sgt Gunner 3 Rtd
Fagan, Arthur V. 2nd Lt Co-Pilot 0
Gernert, Frederick G. 2nd Lt Bombardier Rtd
Gitchell, Frank L. Cpl Gunner 6 Rtd
Kelly, Robert W. S/Sgt Gunner 4 Rtd
McGill, John J. 2nd Lt Pilot Rtd
Morrell, Harry J. 2nd Lt Navigator Rtd
Thomas, Raymond J. T/Sgt Gunner 1 0

How to cite

DAACDA – Downed Allied Air Crew Database Austria, edited by Nicole-Melanie Goll, Georg Hoffmann and Peter Andorfer, Vienna 2025 (https://daacda.acdh.oeaw.ac.at/a-00394.html)