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10 young american boys |
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CREW ON THE LAST FLIGHT OF B17 42-5053
2 KIA
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 Earl L. Sell, radio operator / gunner, registration number n°13080370, native from 350 beach street, Pottstown, Montgomery, Pennsylvanie.
Born January 16, 1921.
Killed in action on July 4, 1943, at the age of 22. burial place : Highland Memorial Park, Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvanie, USA.
 Burial place
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 Bernard C. McKnight, right waist gunner, registration number n°13039596, native from 7142 Benelett street,
Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvanie.Born July 3, 1916.
Killed on July 4, in action. Burial place : Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington county, Virginie, USA.
Tim Ryan from Mcknight family contact us in 2011.
Burial place
Read newspaper clipping
6 POW
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 William F. Mooney, tail gunner, registration number n°10600115, native from 8149 Eberhart Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.
Born september 27, 1918. War prisoner at Stalag 17B.
In 1949, he works at the Chicago Daily News as political and investigative journalist.
Died on May 21, 1985 at age 67.
Read the
biography of W. Mooney
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 William O. Hulett, left waist gunner,
registration number n°17032523, native from Swifton, Jackson, Arkansas,
born november 4, 1920. War prisoner.
He was carrying out his 25th mission which should have been his last before his deserved return to the USA. He later served as the youngest judge in Jackson County, Arkansas.
Died March 17, 1998 at age 77. Burial place : Swifton Cemetery, Swifton, Jackson County, Arkansas, USA.
Burial place
Read the
biography of W. Hulett
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 Peter Hnatuick, ball turret gunner,
registration number n°13052256, native from 270 S Laurel street, Hazleton, Pennsylvanie.
Born november 28, 1918. Prisoner of war.
Died on June 1, 2000 at 81 years old.
Burial place : Most Precious Blood Cemetery, Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvanie, USA
Contact established in 2004
with her daughter Debi Hnatuick Kowalczyk, residing in Hazleton, and a
nephew, Mike Hnatuick, residing in Nevada. The Hnatuick family,
originally from Ukraine would have emigrated to the USA after the start of the
Russian revolution in 1917.
Burial place
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Charles T. Cockrell, Co-pilot registration number n°T-86, native from 1020 Morningaide Drive, Forth Worth, Tarrant, Texas.
Born on april 11, 1920. War prisoner. last known address in 1995 : 210 brook court, Niceville Florida 32578-3911.
Burial place ? (Born on 11/04/1920 or 04/11/1920 ?)
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Charles E. Allen, bombardier, registration number n°0-734774, native from Nitta Yuma, Sharkey Mississipi
War prisoner
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Doya C. Garrett, top turret gunner,
matricule n°34352224, born in 1913, native from 1140 steet Northwest,
Thomaston, Upson Georgia War prisoner.
Died on April 12, 1962 at age 49. Burial place : Southview Cemetery, Thomaston, Upson County, Georgie, USA.
Burial place
2 EV
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 William C. Wetzel, pilot, registration number n°0-683974, native from 926 W. Morton Street, Denison, Texas,
D.C. Born on april 26, 1916. Escaped. We only know his last
address in 1946: Borden Avenue, Galveston, Texas.
Died May 26
1982 at age 66. Grave: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Burial place
Read the escape of Wetzel
Rapport de l'évasion de William Wetzel (Archives AMERICAN AIR MUSEUM IN BRITAIN)
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 Ralph D. McKee, navigator registration number n°0-729637, native from rural delivery southard, Blaine, Oklahoma.
Born on september 19, 1921. After retiring from the Air Force in 1965, after 24 years of service, he was engaged in various engineering missions on the Apollo and Shuttle programs for 31 years.
Died on February 4, 2012 at age 90. Grave: South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA.
Burial place
Read the escape of Ralph McKee
Report of the escape of Ralph McKee (Archives AMERICAN AIR MUSEUM IN BRITAIN)
Ralph
D McKee video, Interview, The National WWII Museum
(2013)
Read the biography of Ralph McKee
Missing Aircrew Report :
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"Rigor Mortis" crew photo
(Source American Air Museum)
(Top row from L to R) Smith ; McIntyre ; Howard Gardener ; Roger Moran ; JK Kunz ;
(Low row from L to R) William Mooney ; Bernard McKnight ; Frank Brinski ; Peter Knatuick ; Anley Farmworth |
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"Adams" crew photo taken in spring 1943 at CHEVELSTON ENGLAND
(source Ralph McKee)
(Top row from L to R) H S McMurray, Ralph McKee ; Ace Adams ; John Nelson ;
(Low row from L to R) Donsteffee ; Danvers ; Tom McGrath ; Shorty Hulett ; Non identifié
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William C. Wetzel crew photo
before July 4, 1943 (Source Ralph McKee)
(Top row from L to R) Fred E. Helmick ; John A. McKeague ; William C. Wetzel ; Lloyd F. Fields
(Low row from L to R) Claude E. Wood ; James V. Labella ; John P. Hallman ; Arturo Varella
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We do not have
the photo of the crew opposite. Indeed, most of the aviators on the last flight of B17 42-5053 were not used to flying
together. Ralph McKee, who replaced pilot Wetzel's navigator at short notice, previously flew with William Hulett of the "Adams" crew, while William Mooney, Bernard Mcknight and Peter Hnatuick flew with the "Rigor Mortis" crew.
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RAPPORT DE L'EQUIPAGE MANQUANT
(MIA)
Washington, 7 juin 1945
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Location : England
Air Force : 8th AF
Groupe : 305 Bomb Gp (H)
Squadron : 366 Bomb Sq
Departure location : Chelveston ; Target : Nantes, France
Mission : Heavy Bomb
Day : 4 juillet 1943
Location : near Nantes, Fr.
Aircraft : B-17F
Serial N° : 42-5053
Engines : R-1820-97
Number of peopole on board : 10
2 killed (KIA)
2 escapees (EV)
6 prisoners (POW)
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B 17 42-5053 KY-L
Photo sent by Graham Meiklejohn from New-Zealand, in 2013 |
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