Crash Site Boeing B17 42-32065 RQ-J 'Silver Slipper'

On 19 July 1944, the Boeing B17 with registration number 42-32065 RQ-J crashed in this area. The aircraft, belonging to the 96th Bomb Group, 339th Squadron and named “Silver Flipper”, was hit by anti-aircraft fire just after dropping its bombs over Schweinfurt and crashed between the railway line and the Moselle.

The ten crew members managed to safely parachute out of the aircraft and were taken prisoner of war. They all survived the war.

The crew consisted of:
1st Lt. Charles E. Quinby (Pilot),
2nd Lt. Herbert R. Jackson (Co-Pilot),
2nd Lt. Joseph Bernstein (Bombardier),
2nd Lt. Bruce K. Bockstanz (Navigator),
T/Sgt. Joseph K. Duplechain (Engineer),
T/Sgt. John L. Jones (Radio),
S/Sgt. Norman F. Christian (Right Waist Gunner),
S/Sgt. Paul F. Nulton (Left Waist Gunner),
S/Sgt. Walter J. Finnegan (Tail Gunner)
and S/Sgt. Arthur J. Schwaiger (Ball Gunner).

What made this aircraft special was that it was the first unpainted B17 to be used by the American 8th Air Force. This is probably where the name “Silver Slipper” came from.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: David Bockstanz
• - https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/42-32045