B-17C 40-2042 crash, 1-25-43

[Chris Brame]

I was going through my .doc file copy of David Osborne's book B-17 FORTRESS MASTER LOG and noticed this listing for the first B-17C built:

RB-17C
40-2042 Del Air Force 21/7/40, the first such service flight, but then sent back to Boeing for two years, before returning to AF. Del Lockbourn(e), OH, then on 25/1/43 cr NW of New Albany, OR., w/Jack Pack (KIS-crew?). WO 29/1/43.

I did some searching on the Newspapers site and came up with more info about the accident; note New Albany is in Ohio, not Oregon:
















I updated my copy of the document and did the same for the American Air Museum site as well:

RB-17C
40-2042
Del Air Force 21/7/40, the first such service flight, but then sent back to Boeing for two years, before returning to AF. Del Lockbourn, OH, then on 25/1/43 exploded mid-air and cr on farm near New Albany, OH, w/Jack Pack, cp-Capt. Robert Cooley, 1Lt. George Stobridge, SSgt. Chester B. Fudge, Cpl. Richard J. Klaetsch, Pvt. Salvatore B. Curcio, Pvt. Christian Mauthe, Sgt. Walter F. Baran, Pfc. Gordon D. Rutters, SSgt. John A. Swataka, Pvt. George A. Box, Sgt. James H. Foldesi (who survived crash but died next day) (12 KIS). WO 29/1/43.

Does anyone have the final accident report, and was a cause of the explosion found?

[terveurn]

You need from maxwell CD 46163

Let me know when you get this CD, would love to grab a copy from the secure vault.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188 ... amore-pack
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/519 ... uis-cooley

PACK, JACK N.; COOLEY, ROBERT L.; STROBRIDGE, GEORGE H.; FUDGE, CHESTER B.; SAWATKA, JOHN A.; BARAN, WALTER F.; FOLDESI, JAMES H.; KLAETSCH, RICHARD J.; RUTTORS, GORDON O.; MAUTHE, CHRISTIAN; BOX, GEORGE A.; CURCIO, SALVATORE (43-1-25-7)