During the final stages of the Second World War, the Allies launched a series of precision air raids over Germany to cripple the nation’s industrial infrastructure and erode morale. Within the course of these missions, a tragic incident occurred on April 8, 1945, resulting in the loss of the US Army Air Forces (USAAF)-operated Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie.
The bomber’s descent, brought about by German anti-aircraft fire, was captured on camera, producing both awe-inspiring and poignant images.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie
Wee Willie – B-17G-15-B0, serial number 42-31333 – marked the 302nd B-17G Flying Fortress to roll off the assembly line at Boeing Airplane Company’s Plant 2 in Seattle, Washington. The heavy bomber was delivered to the US Army Air Forces in Cheyenne, Wyoming in October 1943, before being transported to RAF Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
Upon reaching the UK, Wee Willie was assigned to the 322nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 1st Air Division, 8th Air Force.
At the time of its loss, the bomber was the longest-serving aircraft within the 91st and was one of the very last to be lost to enemy action before the German surrender.
Preparing to bomb German railroad facilities
On April 8, 1945, the B-17G Wee Willie departed from Air Force Station 121 at RAF Bassingbourn for either its 128th or 129th mission (sources vary). Leading the mission was 1st Lt. Robert E. Fuller of the US Army Air Forces (USAAF), accompanied by combat crew members Sgt. Le Moyne Miller, 2nd Lt. Woodrow A. Lien, Staff Sgt. James D. Houtchens, Tech. Sgt. Francis J. McCarthy, Staff Sgt. Ralf J. Leffelman, Staff Sgt. Wylie McNatt Jr. and Staff Sgt. William H. Cassiday.
As part of the 332nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), they were among a 73-bomber group assigned to conduct a raid on the repair facilities at the railroad marshaling yards in Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Due to overcast conditions, the aircraft relied on H2S ground search radar to locate their targets while maneuvering through moderate anti-aircraft fire from the ground.
Downing of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie
During the mission, German anti-aircraft fire caused minor damage to 13 Allied bombers and inflicted major damage on another four. Of the 73 participating aircraft, only two were completely lost, and one of them was the B-17G Wee Willie. It suffered an 88 mm flak hit between its #2 engine and bomb bay, leading to an immediate vertical dive.
A witness to the incident further explained what happened after the strike, writing in a statement, “The fuselage was on fire and when it had dropped approximately 5,000 feet [1,524 meters] the left wing fell off. It continued down and when the fuselage was about 3,000 feet [914.4 meters] from the ground it exploded and then exploded again when it hit the ground.”
Of the nine-man crew aboard Wee Willie, only Lt. Fuller survived. Reports suggest the initial explosion ejected him from the cockpit and he successfully deployed his parachute, landing safely on the ground. Unfortunately, he was soon captured by the Germans, and his fate beyond that point remains unknown.
The entire incident was documented on film by the automatic strike camera on another B-17. It began recording as soon as the first bombs were released and continued capturing images until it either exhausted its film supply or reached its image limit.
Loss of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Times A-Wastin’
The second bomber taken out during the air raid was the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Times A-Wastin’ – B-17G-50-B0, serial number 42-102504 – flown by the 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy). It was piloted by US Army Air Forces Lt. Peter Pastras, and its loss was witnessed by Lt. Mike Fodroci, a navigator serving aboard another B-17.
According to Fodroci, Times A-Wastin’ was struck by German flak in its open bomb bay, which he suspects immediately killed Pastras. “The ship pulled up and veered to the right, climbing directly over our ship,” he recounted. “Captain Shelby put our ship into a dive so steep that I was thrown up against the astro hatch of the ceiling of the nose – seems I hung there for a brief second or two.
“I also observed that a bad fire was burning on the aircraft’s forward bomb bay area and that the co-pilot was trying to climb out of the small window with his back pack on,” Fodroci continued. “Somehow, we saw three chutes emerge from #504 as she spun toward the earth.”
Of those aboard Times A-Wastin’, all but two were killed. The crew members who survived, radio operator Bob A. Smith and flight engineer/top turret gunner Lyle Jones, met a similar fate to Lt. Fuller and were taken as prisoners of war (POWs) by the Germans.
Despite the loss of two bombers, the mission was deemed a success
Despite the loss of the B-17Gs Wee Willie and Times A-Wastin’, the raid over Stendal was deemed a success by those involved. According to the 322nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)’s official report, the bombs dropped on the railroad marshaling yards succeeded in hitting their targets.
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As for Wee Willie, the bomber has forever been immortalized in the images captured that day. For many, the photo of the B-17G having lost its left wing is among the most impactful images to come out of the Second World War, as it shows the danger Allied servicemen continuously put themselves in to ensure victory over Germany.