Operation: Schweinfurt (Mission #482), Germany

Date: 19th July 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 560th Bombardment Squadron (H), 388th Bombardment Group (H), 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force

Type: B-17F Little Boy Blue

Serial No: 42-30851

Code: No Sqn code issued during hostilities: H

Location: Thurston, Suffolk, England

Base: Knettishall (Station #136), Suffolk, England

Pilot: 2nd Lt. Walter Harry Malaniak O-813403 AAF Age 26. KoM

Co Pilot: FO. Aaron Lewis Brinkoeter T-002092 AAF Age 24. KoM

Navigator: FO. Leo D. Ramos T-124381 AAF Age? KoM

Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Amos Laddie ‘Bing’ Force O-762089 AAF Age 27. KoM

Radio Op: T/Sgt. Ronald Grey 32809357 AAF Age 27. KoM

Engineer: T/Sgt. Norris Wilson Thomas 34546473 AAF Age 20. KoM

Ball Turret Gnr: S/Sgt. John McCluskey 32608556 AAF Age? KoM

Right Waist Gnr: S/Sgt. Harold Vincent ‘Hal’ Hagerty 19170403 AAF Ag 20. Returned (1)

Left Waist Gnr: S/Sgt. William W. Klemm Jr. 16081871 AAF Age 22. KoM

Tail Gnr: S/Sgt. James Matthew 'Jim' Bennett 39407096 AAF Age 21. Returned

Note: KoM = Killed on Operational Mission

Above: B17F 42-30851 ‘Little Boy Blue’ with the crew of 1st Lt. Gordon K. Penton. They flew 32 missions and returned to the USA. England 7th February 1944. (Courtesy of Fold3)

Standing left to right: T/Sgt. Harold D. Spencer - Engineer, S/Sgt. Ronald E. Powless - Waist Gunner, 2nd Lt. Walter R. Wysaske - Co-Pilot, S/Sgt. James l. Rainey - Tail Gunner, 1st Lt. William J. Hyde – Bombardier: Kneeling left to right: T/Sgt. Lloyd A. Swenson - Radio Operator, 1st Lt. Gordon K. Penton – Pilot, 1st Lt. Carl E. Podlasky – Navigator, S/Sgt. John C. Schroeder - Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt. Eugene H. Miner - Waist Gunner.

REASON FOR LOSS:

The 388th Bombardment Group (H) was detailed to provide bombers for the lead and low groups for a mission to bomb target at Schweinfurt in Germany.Thirty-seven plus a PFF aircraft were airborne by 05:42 hrs on the 19th July 1944. The Little Boy Blue was flying #5 position in the High Sqn.

The Little Boy Blue had flown 66 previous missions and this “F” model had all but disappeared from front-line Sqns. A feature of the “F” model required continuous monitoring and frequent balancing of the supercharger systems. Aboard the aircraft a supercharger malfunction reduced the power on #3 engine and the aircraft ladened with fuel, five 1000 lb bombs and ammunition dropped back and below the 388 BG formation.

Closing from astern was the formation of B-17s from the 96 BG. 1st Lt. Ralph M. Colflesh flying B-17G 43-37623, from the 413th BS was flying at #4 position in the Low Sqn, High Group, saw the Little Boy Blue lose position and drop below his own aircraft.

It is believed that aboard the Little Boy Blue the pilots were still distracted by the problem with #3 supercharger. It appears that the supercharger problem was resolved and the power surged back and the pilots appeared to attempt to catch up with their formation. At about 07:20 hrs, flying at about 15,000 ft the Little Boy Blue pulled up and collided with 1st Lt. Ralph M. Colflesh’s B-17.

The collision cut the Little Boy Blue in two just forward of waist windows. The tail section fluttered earthwards and the forward section spun down into the ground near Thurston in Suffolk. The five 1000 lb bombs exploded on impact leaving a crater 20 ft wide and 16 ft deep.

Three parachutes were seen in the air but only the right waist gunner and tail gunner landed safely. The third parachute was believed to have been just above the forward section and was engulfed in the explosion. The bodies of 2nd Lt. Malaniak, FO. Brinkoeter and T/Sgt. Grey were never recovered.

Aboard 1st Lt. Colflesh’s B-17 the bale-out bell was sounded and three of the crew bailed out immediately. Although his B-17 was badly damaged and #2 engine had to be shut down, he managed to regain control and cancelled the bale-out bell. They were instructed to dump their bomb load in the north sea after which he nursed the damaged aircraft back to base at Snetterton.

1st Lt. Ralph M. Colflesh and his eight crew were KiA 10 days later, on the 29th July 1944, on a mission to bomb the Merseburg Leuna synthetic oil plant. On the homebound leg B-17G 42-97262 ‘Sliver Slipper’, from the 413th Bombardment Squadron (H), 96th Bombardment Group (H), was seen to break formation with #3 engine feathered, its bomb doors open and break up in mid-air.

(1) An account that includes the perspectives of Hal Hagerty and Jim Bennett on the loss of the Little Boy Blue and their comrades has been published in the Eighth Air Force Bomber Stories by Ian McLachlan & Russell J. Zorn in Chapter 21: Little Boy Blue pp 104 -109.

Dr. Harold Vincent 'Hal' Hagerty (7th August 1924 - 18th December 2011)

Burial Details:

Above: Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery

2nd Lt. Walter Harry Malaniak. Air Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), Purple Heart. Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery. Born on the 13th January 1918 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Son of Harry and Stella (née Nakoneczna) Malaniak of Dearborn, Michigan. Husband to Edythe Marie (née Piehl) Malaniak of Dearborn, Michigan, USA.

Walter married Edythe on the 7th November 1942. His daughter, Patricia Marie, was born on the 14th September 1944.

FO. Aaron Lewis Brinkoeter. Air Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), Purple Heart. Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery. Born on the 12th September 1919 in San Antonio, Texas. Son of Paul Herman Henry and Lenora May (née Haverlah) Brinkoeter of San Antonio, Texas, USA.

FO. Leo D. Ramos. Air Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster). Cambridge American Cemetery, Plot M, Row 4, Grave 16. Relocated to Plot F, Row 1, Grave 129. Son of Francisco Salvador and Mary Ramos of Gainesville, Florida, USA.

2nd Lt. Amos Laddie ‘Bing’ Force. Air Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster), Purple Heart. Cambridge American Cemetery, Plot M, Row 4, Grave 15. Relocated to Plot F, Row 2, Grave 43. Born on the 15th August 1916 in Climax, Michigan. Son of David Franklin (deceased in 1919) and Gladys (née Pearce) Force. Husband to Wilma Louise (née Roe) of Battle Creek, Michigan, USA.

T/Sgt. Ronald Grey. Air Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters). Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery. Born on the 1st February 1917 in Poughkeepsie, New York. Son of Ellen L. Grey of Carmel, New York, USA.

T/Sgt. Norris Wilson Thomas. Cambridge American Cemetery, Plot M, Row 4, Grave 13. Repatriated and laid to rest at the Oakland Cemetery, Tallahassee, Florida on the 18th July 1948. Born on the 1st March 1924 in Wakulla, Florida. Son of Jesse Marion and Alline E. (née Allen) Thomas. Husband to Audrey Olena (née Williams) Thomas of Tallahassee, Florida, USA.

S/Sgt. John McCluskey. Air Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters). Cambridge American Cemetery, Plot M, Row 4, Grave 18. Relocated to Plot E, Row 2, Grave 113. Son of George M. McCluskey of West Grange, New Jersey, USA.

S/Sgt. William W. Klemm Jr. Air Medal (Oak Leaf Cluster). Cambridge American Cemetery, Plot M, Row 4, Grave 14. Repatriated to Illinois and laid to rest at the Cedar Park Cemetery, Cook County, Illinois on the 11th August 1948. Born on the 10th May 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. Son of William Walter and Mabel Klemm of Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Thanks to Jon Schmit for the correct to DoB for S/Sgt. Klemm Jr. (Apr 2023). Thanks to Lisa Lark for the additional Next-of-Kin details for 2nd Lt. Malaniak (Jul 2023).

Other sources listed below:

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt