Crew of the B-17. "Floozy". # 41-24474

Hello,

I am looking for the composition of the crew of the B-17. "Floozy". # 41-24474. Loss on 21/10/1942. In Ocean Isle d'Ouessant in Brittany.

Thank you

Dan

Dan,
 
All these planes were downed in the early years before MACRs were being issued. However, many MACRs were issued later and are not listed in the MACR database on this site. I would think that you could request the MACRs (if they exist). Check with Lynn.Gamma@MAXWELL.AF.MIL . and get the MACR #s and request the MACRs. They are free from this source but take some time to receive. If you know the numbers, you can get the MACRs on line at www.footnote.com at a small cost. Many people have access to this source and can help you if you will provide the MACR number.
 
Vic

found no crash of 41-24474

3 b-17 of the 97 BG were lost that day

41-24344
41-24441
41-24443

2 were salvaged
41-24400
41-24411

there are no MARC of this planes

only from 41-24344 there is something on footnote
the other planes are nothing

41-24474  "FLOOZY"

Roger Freeman and David Osborne's The Flying  Fortress Story shows FLOOZIE with  the pilot as GASTON.....However, the 97th BG History Book "Venit Hora" shows all three B-17s with only one identified....that aircraft is 41-24344 with the pilot Capt John Bennett.

There has to be an error, as the 97th Book does not agree with Freeman's book...which one is in error ?

Gaston does not show as the pilot of either of the other two losses.

The other two show :

342nd Squadron    Pilot Schwarzenbeck.
 and the other from the 414th Squadron    Pilot Stenstrom.

Those two aircraft are NOT ID'd with the actual aircraft tail number.

I can furnish the crew names if the correct aircraft crew is known as flying FLOOZIE.

Jim :-)

Hello,

Milles excuses, I was wrong for the B-17. "Floozy". # 41-24474.
2nd Lt. Kenneth H. Jones. Missing in Action or Buried at Sea. Tablets of the Missing at Brittany American Cemetery St. James.

It is the 306th BG/367th BS.

My other two applications are B-17 97th BG.

Today, I had a strong urge to Google "Floozy B-17" and this site was the first one listed. I registered and here I am. As you can see by my username my birth father was on the B-17 as a Ball Gunner (?) or Turret Gunner. I have heard it called Floozy or Floozie. I know there is some confusion on the name and there may be 2 planes with similar names. It has been many years since I did the research on the crash so memories have faded! I was in email contact with others who had details. Even a woman from England wrote with details from a book that listed all the members of the crew. I have changed computers and emails since then and may not have the info any longer.  Gaston, the pilot was killed. My BFather Lester Quandt was full of shrapnal and was laid out on a dock after fishing the men from the channel. The Germans (?) checked his dog tags and panicked because the last name Quandt was the family name one of Hitler's close aides. They also owned BMW Motor Works. He was sent to France for medical treatment that evidently surpassed other prisoners of war. After recovery he was sent to Stalag 17 for the next 1 1/2 years and is part of the Kreige Memories Book published by Ben Phelper a fellow prisoner who later assisted on the TV series Hogan's Heros which was loosly fashioned after Stalag 17. Will someome tell me what a MARC is! Thanks...

I Love Google MACR=Missing Air Crew Report.

Jodeen, (nice name)
At the top of this page, there is a block "Research Help". Scrolling down aways in red letters is MACR explanation. A little late to help you, but that section may be of help in the future. Scott has done a great job covering basics. 

Hi Jodeen,
 
Although this on the 97th BG forum, 41-24474 "Floozy" was a 306th BG plane. It was a 367th Squadron  plane that failed to return due to flak and ditched in the English Channel on 18 Nov 1942. As mentioned earlier, MACRs were not issued at that time but many were issued later and there might be one available. Contact Lynn.Gamma@MAXWELL.AF.MIL and find out. They are free of charge and may take awhile to receive in case there is one available.
 
Crew list:
Lt Ralph J. Gaston (P) POW
2Lt Don H. Eldredge (CP) POW
2Lt James D. Walker (N) POW
2Lt Kenneth H. Jones (B) KIA
T/Sgt Lester D. Quandt (TT) POW
Sgt John B. Jones (RO) POW
Sgt Rudolph Garcia (BT) POW
Sgt Albert J. Conte (LW) POW
Sgt Percy C. Bolinger (RW) POW
Sgt Joseph A. Dillard (TG) POW
 
Vic

Searching on Footnote.com I was unable to find a MACR for this loss.  However, searching under the name Ralph Gaston I discovered a 5 page document titled "Review and Determination of Status of Second Lieutenant Kenneth H. Jones 0-726030"

Attached is the first page.  To post all 5 pages will take 5 posts if I'm to get copies large enough for you to read.  Sorry, I don't know any other way to do it.

Hal

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Here's the second page.  Notice that Sgt Rudolph Garcia, the BTG is not listed in this document.

Also note, in the last paragraph of this page it states that these men were the crew of 42-22971.  Does this open a new mystery or is it just a typo?

I hope this information is useful to someone.

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Page 3

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Page 4

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Last page.  Hope this helps somebody.

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Just an interesting side...In searching old posts, I see my nephew rlq615, Bob Quandt posted a couple of years ago. As my memory fades (age excuse!) I THINK we have talked about this, but his uncles have more info and I would think he would have talked to them! The Quandt BMW connection never got any of us a new car!

Hello Jodeen,
 
I’m a member of Daniel’s Absa 39-45 web site. I live just in front of Ouessant island and looked for accounts there. I’ve been in touch with a lady whose father took on board his boat a bomber crew near the island. But they were all captured. She still owns a few bank notes from the escape kit one member of the crew gave to her father. According to a friend, the bomber would have crashed not so far from this island.
I’d very much would like to exchange info or pictures with you or your nephew.
 
Best regards
Gildas

Hello Gildas...I just received this email from you but the post is dated in early July. I know my father flew out of Thurleigh (SPELLING) ENgland and was shot down...from there I don't know what happened other than he was captured and sent to Stalag 17 for the remainder of the war, 1 1/2 years. I will contact my nephew and have him check this site again...He is busy these days expecting the birth of their second baby in 2 months! Sincerely, Jodeen

Hello Jodeen,
Thanks for your reply. I sent to you this previous message, just because I thought you may not go and see this thread again.
Here’s how I use to present myself to any new contact : I am a 43 years old aircraft technician at Brest-Guipavas Flying Club and, for many years, I have had a great passion for everything to do with the Occupation and the Liberation of my area of France during the Second World War. As far as aviation is concerned, a few friends and I are trying to find the crash-site of every aircraft. I do this for the north west part of Brest, which already represents around one hundred different aircraft. For each one, our aim is to find the crash-site, the date of the crash, the aircraft squadron, type and number, and the name of each crew member.
We often find some remains of these aircraft, sometimes  some photos, and try to get in touch with veterans or their next of kin in order to obtain exact accounts and photos of each airman, or of the aircraft. With my friend Jean Tréguer from Kernilis, we now do have remains from about 100 different aircraft.
We hope to find an opportunity to display everything we’ll have gathered as remains, documents and pictures in a museum in Brest area as soon as possible, just to keep the memory of those who had to come and fight in our now peaceful area.
 
If you may provide an e-mail address, mine is gildas4044ATfree.fr, replacing of course the AT with @, I may later send to you pictures I, or a friend, took of Ouessant island (Ushant for the english people)
 
The first time I heard about this crash, I found a note on an old diary a lady wrote during the whole war. The original was written on  a school note book (1500 pages at all for the whole war !
It was noted : « On raconte qu'un quadrimoteur américain aurait été abattu au large d'Ouessant. Les membres de l'équipage ( 8 dont 2 blessés) ont pu être sauvés » ( Note du 30/11 )
Somes say a four engine bomber would have been shot down off Ouessant. The crew members (8, with two wounded) could be saved. (reported on 30 November)
 
 
I also would suggest it may be Gaston, as this is an old french first name, that may have been Canadian, who talked in french to that fisher on board his boat called « Vive Jaurès ». They didn’t stay long together, as the german boat didn’t last to come. I suppose they were then sent to Brest.
Would you have any picture of Lester Quandt, or of the whole crew or maybe this particular B-17 ?
 
Best wishes
Gildas