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Longest Flying B-17s
[Compiled by Harry D. Gobrecht]


Plaques awarded to Crew Chiefs who were in attendance at the 1997 Pittsburgh, PA Reunion
whose B-17s had flown 100 plus combat missions. (8 Sep 1997)

Plaques were awarded to (L to R in photo):

  1. T/Sgt Oldrich Fojt family B-17G #42-32037 "Betty Jane" (427BS) GN-A - 86 missions and B-17G #44-8692 "Little Tillie" aka "Sweet Tillie" (427BS) GN-E - 14 missions Total 100 missions
  2. M/Sgt Robert B. Heiliger B-17G #42-102544 "Sack Time" (360th BS) PU-K - 110 missions
  3. T/Sgt John Peterson B-17G #42-97944 "Daddy's Delight" (359th BS) BN-I - 118 missions
  4. M/Sgt Albert Curtis Fox B-17G #42-37590 "Neva-The Silver Lady" (358th BS) VK-Q - 127 missions
  5. M/Sgt Blaine Ruark B-17G #42-107206 "Old Black Magic" (359th BS) BN-R - 123 missions

B-17Fs
(Used on missions of 17 Nov 1942 - 12 May 1944)
Serial #SQ -
Code		Aircraft NameAircraft Fate -
Date		TOT
MSNs		Crew Chief
41-24605359 RKnockout DropperRetired 17 Mar 4475M/Sgt Buford G. Pafford
41-24561359 TThe Duchess USA 07 Jul 4459M/Sgt Clyde L. Dewald
41-24619 427 SS-for-Sugar MIA 11 Jan 4452M/Sgt Fred W. Kuhne
41-24577 358 D Hell's Angels USA 20 Jan 4448M/Sgt Fabian S Folmer
41-24587 427 P Bad Check MIA 11 Jan 4445 
42-5260 360 A Yardbird II MIA 10 Feb 4343M/Sgt Milo Abraham
42-5393 360 G Thumper Again USA 8 Apr 4443 M/Sgt Alexander J. Bourque, Jr.
42-2973 360 G Iza Vailable USA 8 Apr 4441M/Sgt Robert B. Heiliger

B-17Gs
(Used on missions of 16 Nov 1943 - 25 Apr 1945)
42-39885 427 RSweet Rose O'Grady Scrap June 45 (K)134M/Sgt Frank F. Furman
43-37590 358 QNeva-The Silver Lady Scrap Nov 45 (K)127M/Sgt Albert Curtis Fox
42-107206 359 R Old Black Magic C/L 25 Apr 45123S/Sgt Blaine R.Ruark
42-97944 359 I Daddy's DelightScrap Dec 45 (K)118T/Sgt John L.Peterson
42-38050 359 U Thunderbird Scrap Dec 45 (K)112M/Sgt James P. Thompson
42-102544 360 K Sack Time MIA 17 Apr 45110M/Sgt Robert P. Heiliger
42-97311 427 O Shoo Shoo Baby Scrap Dec 45 (K)107T/Sgt Howard E. Isaacson
44-97546 360 E Idaliza Scrap Dec 45 (K)104M/Sgt Norman A. Cote
42-97298 358 H The Floose C/L 24 Dec 44102M/Sgt George W. Ham
44-6006 358 E Unnamed Scrap Dec 45 (K)100 
42-39875 427 S Buzz Blonde Mid Air 10 Jan 45100T/Sgt Cecil J."Red" Whitney
42-37841 360 P Banshee MIA 27 Aug 4497 
42-31483 359 P Bonnie B C/L(FR) 5 Sep 4493M/Sgt William P. Zachar
42-31340 360 D Miss Liberty C/L(FR) 12 Sep 4493M/Sgt Willis G. Meyer
42-102569 427 X Miss Lace C/L 8 Jan 4587M/Sgt Walter N. Moore, Jr.
43-38289 359 J La Rhonda Scrap Nov 45 (K)87 
42-32027 427 E Betty Jane MIA 13 Sep 4486S/Sgt Oldrich Fojt
42-102496 359 M Special Delivery C/L 18 Sept 4486 
42-31739 358 P Pugnacious Peter MIA 11 Oct 4485 
43-38563 360 H Jackie 351BG 04 Jan 4583 
44-6516 360 Q My Darling Scrap 12/45 (K)83 
44-6517 360 F Old Cock unknown 82 
43-38532 360 G Unnamed Scrap 12/45 (K)80 
43-37597 427 I Earthquake McGoon MIA 17 Apr45 79 
42-102411 427 Y Miss Lace MIA 18 Mar 4579 *M/Sgt Walter N. Moore, Jr.
42-97281 427 Q Queenie C/L 28 Mar 45 78 + M/Sgt James C. Hicks
42-31830 359 N Marie MIA 10 Nov 4478M/Sgt Lester C. Hanson
42-107099427 W Old 99 MIA 13 Jan 4578M/Sgt Jimmie Stewart
43-38191 358 A Shasta C/L 25 Apr 4577 
44-6523 360 A Unnamed C/L 12 Apr 4577 
(K) Scrapped Kingman, Arizona - (FR) France
(*) On 01 Jan 1944 - (+) On 01 Apr 1945 - Last record