Hi Folks,
 
I am looking for any help regarding the look and noseart of 99.BG B-17 nicknamed Rita Ann...lost Oct 13. 1944...I have crash pic of the tail, but amd missing front to work out some nice profile..
ANYONE can help?
 
Thanks
 
 

Peter Kassak
pkassak(AT)yahoo.com

MR KASSAK
I WOULD ALSO BE VERY INTERESTED ON ANY INFO ON THE "RITA ANN"
MY GOOD FRIEND JOE WILLIS FLEW THAT VERY PLANE 09-15-44 ON A MISSION TO ATHENS GR
JOE IS 88 AND STILL WIYH US
HE IS LIKE MY SECOND FATHER
MARK
CAPTMARK13@MSN.COM
 
 
 

I researched back through to the original crew of 232033 from the 483rd. The plane was flown overseas by the John Hommel crew. There are presently three surviving members and contact with each of them has resulted in no photos, no recall of nose art, and no recall of how the name RITA ANN came about.
Shadowson

Thanks for effort and info. It is a pitty that no photo of nose art could be located...
it would nicely fit the story of last mission ...
 
regards
 
Peter

Peter Kassak
pkassak(AT)yahoo.com

I am researching all of the A/C lost on Oct. 13th 1944 which includes Rita Anne
 
99th  42-32033  RITA ANN   347   Transfer from 483rd BG 31 MAr 44. MIA Blechhammer 13 Oct 44 on it's 57th Mission.Mechanical failure. crashed at Nordungau. Jonathan Shafer crew,Brinser,Wheeler,Michaels,Wilson,Arnett,Haines, Zavisa,Yeargin,Williams.  (MACR 9327)
 
I'm attempting to interview veterans from the 15th and I have also been in contact with Mr. Zavisa who was on the flight. Is there anything special you wish to know?

Hi

I know pretty much about this crew...have memo of Arrnett, Zavisa, Shafer and some others...also here are my photos for this case;)
http://www.airwarsk.sk/benadik.html
but still photo of planes nose art is missing...! anyway if you fond anything that may be interesting, please share:)

regards

Peter Kassak
pkassak(AT)yahoo.com

Wow! can you send me a copy of the crew photo and do you know who is stanging where in the photo. If not I may be able to send it to Mr. Zavisa and get him to identify each person. I would really like to send him each of these pictures so if you could email them to me or attach them on here it would be great. soalebm@yahoo.com
 
There were five B-17s lost on that day including "Never Satisfied" 463rd and "Pantie Ante" 483rd plus two planes which did not have nicknames. These include a A/C from the 301st and a brand new plane from the 463rd. All of these aircraft were flak losses. Six men died on the 463rd crew in the new plane including the pilot Lt. Kirby. I'm in contact with the pilots of "Never Satisfied" and "Pantie Ante" they have been a huge help. Now I am attempting to discover which flak unit recorded victories for these aircraft. Kirby's plane exploded over Vienna with a direct hit to the wing so i'm pretty sure a flak crew got credit for the kill. I sent emails to two Luftwaffe museums after the Imperial War museum in London told me to do so.
Thanks for your interest in these events!
Brandon Soale

Brandon
Re Never Satisfied was that #388, If so I flew it several times in 1943?  Note the last 2 letters on the avatar

Jules Horowitz, B-17 pilot, 99th BG, 50 missions/sorties
My tour was from 7/19/43-2/13/44

There were three different A/c named "Never Satisfied." This plane was actually quite old but was #43-6261. What I was told is that everytime the guy who painted the plane was transferred to a new outfit he painted another "Never Satisfied." One of these aircraft actually made 99 missions, finished the war, and was used in the film 12 O'clock High. Your name sounds familiar I may have emailed you about the 99th after Jpeters told me to do so. It may also have been Loy Dickinson with the 2nd I'm not sure.

I know that #25388 was flown over with  the original 348th Sqdn by Stan Samuelson an artist, who was my tentmate. He flew 50 missions in it. I flew in it a few times.
It flew 90 missions while in the 348th Sqdn, then transferred to the 483 B.G where it flew 14 more missions. It was salvaged 11/30/45 overseas.
Stan later flew B29s in the Pacific and was KIA  in Feb'45.

Jules Horowitz, B-17 pilot, 99th BG, 50 missions/sorties
My tour was from 7/19/43-2/13/44