On March 31, 1941 this B-17 was one of twenty one 19th Bombardment Group B-17s flown from March Field to Hamilton Field. That same evening the B-17s departed for a 2,400 mile flight to Hickam Field on Oahu. This was the first mass flight of land base aircraft to make this trip, and the first time that the US Army had flown land-base aircraft to reinforce an overseas base.

During October 1941, this B-17 was flown from Hickam Field bound for the Philippines, piloted by  1st Lt. Alvin H. Mueller. The flight across the Pacific included stops at Midway Airfield, Wake Airfield, 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby, Batchelor Field near Darwin then to the Philippines.

Wartime History
Based at Clark Field on December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific war, when Japanese aircraft attacked and bombed the airfield. Afterwards, was withdrawn to Del Monte Airfield and continued to fly bombing missions until December 23.

On December 23, 1941, this B-17 was ordered to fly to Australia and evacuate twenty-eight personel. Departing Del Monte Airfield the B-17 flew via Davao Airfield then to Batchelor Field.

This B-17 continued flying combat mission operating from Townsville and flying via 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby on bombing missions over New Guinea.

On November 15, 1942 this B-17 spotted two survivors from B-24D "Lady Beverly" 41-23760 in the sea near Baibara Island off the southern coast of New Guinea.

On December 24, 1942 returning from a bombing mission, this B-17 dove from 20,000' to 12,000' when the bomber pulled out of the dive, the wing flexed causing permanent structural damage but returned to Australia safely.

After the dive, the bomber's wingtips were a foot higher than normal, according to crew chief Del Sparrow. Repairs were attempted, but instead the B-17 was reassigned to the 317 Troop Carrier Group, 46th Troop Carrier Squadron. All armament and flooring were removed and the transport was stationed at Mackay Airfield.

As a transport, this aircraft was nicknamed "Miss E.M.F." (Every Morning Fixing) with Australian call sign VH-CBA. Along with an LB-30 also converted to a transport, this B-17 flew Allied servicemen and supplies from rest & recouperation in Australia via Mackay Airfield back to 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby (a 4.5 hour flight) and vice-versa.

These flights were described by a number of people including Teddy Hanks and Robert Foye both of Witchita Falls, Texas and Del Sparrow of Sonoma, California, as packing the troops in the B-17C like sardines in a can. When the aircraft took off the passenger had to try and inch forward so that the B-17 was not tail heavy during takeoff. Passengers did not mind the inconvenience of sitting on the floor without seat belts, because landing meant the start of R&R.

Mission History
On June 14, 1943, six crew and thirty-five passengers were loaded at Mackay Airfield. A few minutes after take-off, it crashed at Bakers Creek, killing forty. This crash was the single worst aviation disaster during WWII in Australia, or in Australian aviation history.

The sole survivor, Sgt Robert Foye of Witchita Falls, TX, had flipped a coin with Sgt Del Sparrow, of Sonoma, CA to be a crew member on this flight.

The verbal account of the crash, and eyewitnesses statements were recorded in the diary of Captain Cutler, the Red Cross commander in Mackay who keep a manifest of the aircraft and the accident. His son, Robert Cutler has his father's diary and wrote the book "Mackay's Flying Fortress: Remembering Australia's Worst Aviation Disaster in World War Two".

At the time of the accident wartime security in Australia meant that everything about the accident was classified. The seriousness of the accident and bad publicity that might result if disclosed saw that nothing was released about the crash.

The Australian police report was declassified and accessed by the Mackay RSL during the early 1990 but the USAAF/USAF classified report has never been located.

Locating the names and burials of the forty killed were researched by Colin Benson, RSL historian who pursued the history of this aircraft for eight years, plus Teddy Hanks in the US searching and digging for a number of years to get all the names. Still, we are actively seeking all the US Army documents related to this crash.

Memorials
The forty bodies were initially buried in Townsville. After the war, their bodies were returned to the United States. Thirteen are buried in the Honolulu Memorial Cemetery (Punchbowl) and the remaining were buried in their home towns. List of KIA crew & passengers List including burial sites.

A memorial to the crew was built near the crash site outside Mackay, due to the efforts of the Mackay RSL and Robert Cutler. The memorial flies the American and Australian flag over the site. On special occasions, twenty state flags that represent the states of those who died are also flown.

References
Special Order #1, Air Echelon, Headquarters 19th Bomb Group(H) AFCC, Albuquerque, NM, list the crew that ferried the B-17 to the Philippines during October 1941 as (pilot) 1st Lt. Alvin H. Mueller, 2nd Lt. James E Colovin, 2nd Lt George M. Markovich, Sgt. Robert W. Schlotte, S/Sgt Adolph Doucet, S/Sgt Clyde W. Anderson, Sgt. Lewis D. Wise, Sgt. John D. Biff, Pfc. George J. McGee
Records at USAF Maxwell Historical incorrectly state this aircraft crashed on June 17, 1943. The Australian Police made a full report on the accident.
A photo of B-17C 40-2072 has the following caption:
"Seems as if they used the star for a target. this ship is still flying August 21, 1942. It sunk 2 loaded transports, one destroyer, one sub from 20,000 feet with one bomb, and has shot down 21 planes including a 4-engined flying boat. It has bombed landing parties and enemy occupied airdromes in the PI. It got 2 direct hits from 3" AA and had over 1000 machine gun holes in it. It was always flown by the same crew. It never had a man killed aboard it, and only 3 slightly hurt. It evacuated 28 pilots from Del Monte at night in a tropical storm and flew to Australia."
It Happened at Bakers Creek, Australia: A History of the Fifth Air Force's Worst Air Crash in World War II. (Hickam AFB, Hawaii: PACAF/HO, 2003) Robert S. Cutler Maps, Photographs, Notes, Bibliography, Appendices. Pages. xii, 84. Paperback
"Over and Out!": Sam's Story The Private War Diary of Captain Samuel Cutler, Army Air Corps US Forces in Australia, 1942-1944 editor: Robert S. Cutler (Xlibris 2011) 250 pages w/ photos
Mackay's Flying Fortress: Remembering Australia's Worst Aviation Disaster in World War Two by Robert S. Cutler
After The Battle Issue 153 "Australia's Worst Air Disaster" by David Mitchelhill-Green
The Forgotten B-17C 40-2072 "Miss EMF(Every Morning Fixing) by Eugene D. Rossel
Oz @ War - Crash of B-17C Flying Fortress at Bakers Creek Near Mackay, QLD 14 June 1943
Thanks to William H. Bartsch and Edward Rogers for additional information

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Last Updated
March 5, 2013

B-17