Kurt Merz, B-17G Navigator

Mark,
I don't know of any websites that can match A/C numbers with crews....Would that it were so easy!!  Here's one with missing A/C numbers, but that wouldn't do you any good:
http://www.warbird-central.com/american/bombers/B-17/B-17_main.html

I live about 20 minutes away from Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, where the Yankee Lady B-17 is based.  Thank God it wasn't burned in the fire.  They also have a B-25 and every week or so during the summer I hear them/see them fly over my house.  They give ride alongs for $400.00, but I haven't done that yet.  The B-25 with its 2 engines actually sounds louder to me than the low roar of the B-17. 
 
There was another 342nd B-17 with the last 3 numbers of 437 named "Thunderbird", but I don't think it was a G model. 

in reply to frank booth question.  K J MERZ WAS SHOT DOWN ON MAY 13 1944 ON A MISSION TO GYOR HUNGARY.  THE BOOK VENIT HORA HAS MISPPELLED HIS NAME.  THE BOOK ALSO MENTIONS WM METZ WHO WAS A 414TH NAV HE WAS SHOT DOWN ON 6 2 1944 ON THE SHUTTLE MISSION TO RUSSIA.  ONLY ONE MAN GOT AND THAT WAS MASTER JOHN SINKINA OUR LINE CHIEF.
METZ WAS A FL OFF.NEXT QUESTION
41-9023 WAS ORIGINAL YANKEE DOODLE FROM ENGLAND.  24415 WAS YANKEE DOODLE II IN AFRICA.
24473 WAS KISSY MI KOWBOY OLIVE DRAB GRAY COM. UNDERNEATH.   YANKEE DOODLE HAD A MIDAIR COLLISION WITH OLD IRON SIDES.AND VERTICLE STABALIZER AND PART OF THE HORT WERE ATE UP FROM OLD IRON SIDES PROPS. MADE BACK AND WAS SELVAGE.  THE PICTURE OF THE YANKEE DOODLE SHOWN IS A B=17 F FIRST MAN ON THE PICTURE LEFT TO RIGHT IS JOCK MCCARTER CREW CHIEF.ON PAGE 14 THE THREE PLANES TWO ARE RIGHT,  THE THIRD ONE I NEVER SEEN THAT NUMBER.. 

Jim and Frank,

Thought you might be interested in viewing this photo of my dad and fellow crew members.
2nd Lt. Kurt J. Merz is second from the right, front row.  We believe that this B-17 is the plane that the crew was trained on (?)
My mom remembered that my dad traveled to Kearney AFB to pick up the B-17G and then on to Brazil. 
The crew traveled from Brazil to Tunisia and then of course to Foggia, Italy. 
While in Brazil my dad purchased an "expensive" watch and then traded it for a loaf of bread from a German civilian during the Sagan March.

Thanks again for sharing information with us.
Mark and Cathy Merz

Attached Image(s)

 

The gentleman in the front row 2nd from the left is my father Ward Rose.
Thanks for sharing.

Stewart Rose

EDITED... I made a mistake, the plane that collided with Old Ironsides was Yankee Doodle. Sorry for the mistake...
Laurie

Hi Mark,
 
I have a photo of the plane you are asking about- tail number 124473 KISSY MI KOWBOY .
 
My dad was in the 97th BG 414th Squadron. He was the bombardier in Old Ironsides. He was injured when Old Ironsides and KISSY MI KOWBOY collided. My dad was 2nd Lt. James B Macrae. He flew his 50th mission and was sent somewhere else... the plane Old Ironsides was lost soon after that.
 
I have photos of both of these planes at the time they landed just after the collision.
 
There is a post on this thread that mentions the collision...
 
 
"in reply to frank booth question.  K J MERZ WAS SHOT DOWN ON MAY 13 1944 ON A MISSION TO GYOR HUNGARY.  THE BOOK VENIT HORA HAS MISPPELLED HIS NAME.  THE BOOK ALSO MENTIONS WM METZ WHO WAS A 414TH NAV HE WAS SHOT DOWN ON 6 2 1944 ON THE SHUTTLE MISSION TO RUSSIA.  ONLY ONE MAN GOT AND THAT WAS MASTER JOHN SINKINA OUR LINE CHIEF.
METZ WAS A FL OFF.NEXT QUESTION
41-9023 WAS ORIGINAL YANKEE DOODLE FROM ENGLAND.  24415 WAS YANKEE DOODLE II IN AFRICA.
24473 WAS KISSY MI KOWBOY OLIVE DRAB GRAY COM. UNDERNEATH.   YANKEE DOODLE HAD A MIDAIR COLLISION WITH OLD IRON SIDES.AND VERTICLE STABALIZER AND PART OF THE HORT WERE ATE UP FROM OLD IRON SIDES PROPS. MADE BACK AND WAS SELVAGE.  THE PICTURE OF THE YANKEE DOODLE SHOWN IS A B=17 F FIRST MAN ON THE PICTURE LEFT TO RIGHT IS JOCK MCCARTER CREW CHIEF.ON PAGE 14 THE THREE PLANES TWO ARE RIGHT,  THE THIRD ONE I NEVER SEEN THAT NUMBER..  "
 
Sincerely,
Laurie Macrae
Owyhee County, Idaho
laurie@lauriemacrae.com