B-17G-30-DL
'Sleepy Time Gal', 42-38211
B-17G-30-DL
'Sleepy Time Gal', 42-38211
Heinz Knoke's victim on March 8, 1944
"...Around 12:53 p.m., the radio operator, Willie Rowden, observed the P-47s
turning back and heading for home. "We're losing our escorts," he stated over
the intercom. Lieutenant MacDonald acknowledged Rowden's comment and advised
the crew to watch for the P-51s that were supposed to pick-up escort duty."There's our escort at twelve o'clock high," a voice soon announced over the
intercom. The fighters initially appeared as distant specks but grew larger
as they approached the bombers. From head on and in shallow dive, the fighters
rapidly closed on the bomber formation. The bomber crews soon realized that the
fighters were not escorts as waves of ten to fifteen FW-190s, Me-109s and
Me-110s, flying wing abreast, opened up on the bombers with machine gun and
20mm cannon fire..."
[Photo courtesy of Squadron/Signal Publications]
"Sleepy Time Gal" lying near Nienburg after the pilot, Lt.Theodore J. MacDonald, belly landed the B-17.
Nienburg is 25kms far North West from Wunstorf.
[Photo courtesy of Squadron/Signal Publications]
German Luftwaffe officers and soldiers are inspecting the wreck of "Sleepy Time Gal".
The weather on this journey of March 1944 look sunny but cold and windy as the floating coats are indicating.
[Photo courtesy of Squadron/Signal Publications]
1 The characteristic front turret of B-17 G was destroyed during the crash.
"...the bomber suddenly began to lose speed and altitude. The head-on attack
made by the German fighters set fire to Sleepy Time Gal's number 2 engine.
Lieutenant MacDonald cut the fuel supply and feathered the propellers on the
burning engine..."
One can notice that the # 2 propeller is intact because this motor was stopped before the plane belly landed.
In fact the propeller can't probably been feathered and the resulting trail caused the B-17 to lose speed and altitude.
The left propeller of # 3 engine, still turning during the crash, is crooked.
"...The second German fighter attack wounded the radio operator, navigator,
...also shredded the parachutes belonging to the navigator and bombardier
and set fire to the number 3 engine..."
Projections of oil, coming from the damaged motor can be seen on the side of "Sleepy Time Gal".
"...Bullets... ...riddled the plane's nose" 4.
Numerous little bullet holes (white points on the photos) can be seen on the side and tail of the bomber.
[Photo courtesy of Squadron/Signal Publications]
Look at the shell mark 2 on the top side of "Sleepy Time Gal".
"...The German fighter pilots saw the crippled bomber as an easy kill and
formed up for a second pass. Bullets soon riddled... ...ball turret and tail
section. The second German fighter attack wounded the... ...ball turret gunner
and tail gunner..."
As this very interesting photo show, the pilot, Lt.Theodore J. MacDonald, belly landed the B-17 with its complete
load of bombs 1. This heroe had no other choice as he had given his parachute to another member of the crew !
"...Left without a parachute, Lieutenant MacDonald remained at the controls
of Sleepy Time Gal and decided to crash-land the bomber. As he descended
in the crippled aircraft, two German Bf-109 fighter planes took up positions
off each wing and escorted him down. With the landing gear still up and the
bomb bay fully loaded, MacDonald managed to land Sleepy Time Gal in a marsh
outside of Nienburg. He crawled out the cockpit window but was quickly
captured by German soldiers. For his actions on 8 March 1944, Lieutenant
MacDonald was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross."
Currently, there are five surviving crewmembers of Sleepy Time Gal:
Chuck Batdorf, Willie Rowden, Bill Valigura, Mearl Cline and Wendell Dowell.
[Photos courtesy of Alan Foreman]clic on photo to enlarge it.
serial number
plane type or name
squadron
code
reason
mission lost on
pilot / crew
42-38211
B-17G-30-DL
"Sleepy Time Gal"
452 BG
731 BS
Heinz Knoke Bf 109 &
fighters
Berlin.
Crash Location
Nienburg
25 km North/West of Wunstorf 415 / I112nd Lt. Theodore J. MacDonald P POW,
2nd Lt. John T. Godsey CP KIA,
2nd Lt. Jacob Moskowitz N POW,
2nd Lt. Anton L. Harris B KIA,
T/Sgt Mearl I. Cline TTG POW,
T/Sgt Wilburn C. Rowden R POW,
Sgt Charles R. Batdorf RWG POW,
Sgt Wendell E. Dowell LWG POW,
Sgt William J. Valigura, Jr. BTG POW,
Sgt Robert L. Allen TG POW,
MACR 3193
