I am currently searching for a model and pictures of a specific B-17 from the 351st group 511th squadron serial # 43-37571 MACR: 11203 Nicknamed “Dottie’s Taxi”. This particular B-17 was shot down returning from it’s 6th mission on Sunday November 26th 1944. The bomber crashed in a field 20 miles south west of Cologne Germany. Any help anyone can offer in reasearch or photos you may have or have seen would be greatly appriciated.
Little info out there on this one. All I can find is that it was a “G” and most reference it being shot down on a mission to Mersburg, Germany with 2 KIA and 7 taken POW. I did find one reference that said:
37571 (351st BG) crashlanded at Sint-truiden/Saint-Trond, Belgium Feb 14, 1945. I also have this
as being shot down by AAA on mission to Misburg Nov 26, 1944. MACR 11203
I’m no expert and I’m sure those with a more knowledge than me will be along shortly!!
Thanks Jester the only info I have been able to find is it was shot down by AA (direct hit to fuel tank) on sunday 26 november 1944 returning from Misburg after bombing a synthetic oil field. My grandfather was the Ball turrett gunner on that aircraft and was one of the 7 POW he bailed with the waist gunner and both pilot and co pilot died on impact. Trying to build a shadow box with his flag and pictures of aircraft if anyone has any pictures of aircraft and crew that you can find price is not an issue.
Check Google images, the USAF Museum website collection of B-17 photos, the USAF Historical Research Agency collection of photos, the 8th AF website, 351st BG website if it’s like the excellent 303rd BG site. Google for the aircraft name,etc. Go to your library and look at the WW 2 collections for the odd chance of finding a photo in a book. Use the Google Life magazine images. Pictures are everywhere. Check Osprey Publishing to see if they have a book published on the 351st like they have one done on the 303rd.
Found a G-model with the following here:
94 BW-351BG/511BS B-17F -“DS-X” S/N 44-337571-“Dottie’s Taxi”.
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/prod/dialspace/town/avenue/pl15/b17/351st.htm
Found a site here as well:
http://members.cox.net/511bs/index.shtml
“Dottie’s Taxi” was one of five 511th B-17s coded “DS-X”. It flew 59 missions from being procured by the squadron on 6 June 44 before being listed as “Inactive” on 26 November 44. This suggests more than one crew flew this aircraft… The previous aircraft to bear the same code letters was “Silver Ball”, S/N42-97191. It flew only 17 missions, being listed “Inactive” on 28 May 44…
The 511th Bomb Squadron was nicknamed the “Ball Boys” after their group commander, Major Clinton Ball. Initially, every plane in the squadron was named after some kind of “ball”… Of the original twelve planes in the squadron, only two survived the war – Screw Ball and Linda Ball
Here’s a link to photo’s of the 511th’s control towers at Polebrook as they appear now:
http://www.controltowers.co.uk/P/Polebrook.htm
So far, that’s all I’ve found, but I haven’t quit yet…
oh, BTW “MACR” means “MIssing Air Crew Report” if you needed that info… Could be relevant when contacting the USAF Museum, should you do so…
Further research has turned this up:
37571 (351st BG) crashlanded at Sint-truiden/Saint-Trond, Belgium Feb 14, 1945. I also have this
as being shot down by AAA on mission to Misburg Nov 26, 1944. MACR 11203
http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=&content=B-17G
Other suggestions are to try Here:
http://forum.armyairforces.com/default.aspx
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/
POC for the 351st BG Assn is:
Mr. Clint Hammond
2 Southpoint Rd
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-4251
717-766-1489
I can’t tell you how fascinating this is. I’m currently in the process of building, with my son a plastic model of a B-17. I decided when we first found this that we would modify some of the details and paint it to look like my grandfather’s old plane called Dottie’s Taxi. When I was in high school (1995) I was given an assignment in history class to interview and tell the life story of someone who fought in WW2. It was obviously a no brainer. My grandfather, Larry Gore was the navigator on Dottie’s Taxi. On November 26th 1944 he was gearing up with his crew when someone called for him and told him he was not going up that day, he was going to “Mickey” (radio) training instead. I heard him tell this story a few times and he never had dry eyes by the time he finished. He would talk about how mad he was to be left behind while his crew went up and then how devistated he was when they didn’t return. After seeing your post I pulled out the old folder that I kept his notes in from that high school paper and he even included the names of his crew which according to him each member had at least some German descent. It says “Robert Wescott” was the ball turret gunner. Is this your grandfather?
Yes it is very facinating indeed. Robert Westcott was my grandfather. Although he never spoke much of the crash or the subsequent inprisonment of the surviving crew we still do have his journals. The entries are short the but the incident and names of surviving crewmembers are documented in the journals. His accounts were later published in the book “Not home for Christmas.” After I completed my my enlistment in the Marine Corps in 2004 I began researching and have just about everything I need now to complete my grandfathers shadow box except a picture of “Dottie’s Taxi” and pictures of all crew members. If you have any pictures at all please forward to my personal email address rharmon1382@aol.com
I do have some pictures I can email to you. Unfortunately none of Dottie’s Taxi that I know of. Give me a few days to find, scan and send them to you. In the mean time here is a link to a Blog my uncle wrote about my Grandfather and a pilgrimage he took. You might find it interesting.
Ok sorry this took so long but I have made some progress. My grandmother says she does have pictures of the Plane and even pictures of the entire crew in front of the plane. My grandfather flew everything from B17 to B52 so i’m not 100% sure its Dottie’s Taxi yet but in the next week or so I’ll get over there and verify. Then I can scan them and send them on if it’s correct. She says it is a B17 though so I think i found what you’re looking for.
That is great I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. My email address is rharmon1382@aol.com