John shared this photo detailing a stencil on the windshield: Max Capacity 5 Person. He hoped it would help any folks doing a restoration.
He wrote, “Over on a Warbird forum someone posted this photo of a B-17 crew in the UK late in the war. I have blown up the photo for details….specifically, the tire pressure stencil on the base of the windscreen frame…and the “Max capacity 5 persons” notice..Might be of interest to someone restoring a wartime vehicle. The photo is from the national archives… so no copyright.”
Here is the closeup:
Here is the original photo:
L to R: S/Sgt William W. Adamson–Waist Gunner; Capt. Elmer E. Bockman–Asst S-3 95th BG; 1Lt Jasper W. Kaylor Jr–Copilot; 1Lt Frank t. Sohm–Bombardier; T/Sgt Oscar C. Walrod–Engineer/Top Turret; T/Sgt Robert V. Hill–Radio Operator; Capt. Robert O. Baber–Pilot; 1Lt Raymond D. Dallas–Navigator; S/Sgt Barney Lipkin–Waist Gunner; S/Sgt Walter J. Collyer Jr–Tail Gunner; S/Sgt Donald W. Phllips–Ball Turret –Photo courtesy of National Archives Note: The 11th man in the crew photograph is not dressed for a combat mission because Command Pilot Bockman replaced him on the mission. S/Sgt. William W. Adamson, waist gunner, joined the official crew photograph even though not flying that day.
I did a search on the fate of the B17 in the picture “I’ll get by”. Tragically it was lost to flak on Aug. 2, 1944. Seven of the crew perished. Three made it out and became POWs. Here is the reference which includes the picture:
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-102700-ill-get-by/
Thanks for that John! I can add to it. There’s more of the story, as a monument was dedicated in 2014 to the men of that plane: https://95thbg.com/cms/2019/7/19/airan-france
Walter J. Collyer, Jr 1925-2001, POW, survived the war. He married in 1951 and was still in the service at that point. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-wedding-of-eile/3483793/ … his obit: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18954817/walter-james-collyer
Barney Lipkin (1920-1986), POW, survived the war. https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=23847
Donald W. Phillips (1925-2004), POW, survived the war. His obit: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-times-obituary-for-don-w-p/115664219/
He wrote this letter to the deceased pilot’s mother: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c69f429d745627864a2059c/t/5f778eb72176da35f518c9d9/1601670844806/Don+Phillips+letter+to+Mrs.+Baber.jpeg.pdf
John, David
Thank you for doing the research to tell us the rest of the story.
I sent David the link thinking it would be fun to see a rare color shot of a wartime MB/GPW. I figured they, like my father who was a B-17 pilot in Italy, survived the war and went on with their lives.
I never dreamed that most would be dead within in a few hours of the photo being taken.
I study aviation history and have read many books about the war. I used to reading about missions and losses.
It’s rare you see the crews that were lost, seeing the photo and reading your research make their loss very personal.
RIP to them all.
JohnB,
It’s pretty crazy .. it’s not the direction I thought this story would take either.
– Dave