Mission History
Participated in a four bomber strike on shipping near Shortland Island (possibly Tonolei Harbor). Approximately twenty Japanese Zero fighters intercepted from the front and both beams with determined attacks. Two of the attackers were claimed as shot down and another probably damaged. Despite the attacks, this B-17 dropped its bombs on a cargo vessel, which 'took on a decided list'. Hit, the Fortress was last seen descending to the water smoking and disabled with fighters pursuing it to sea level. In fact, the B-17 traveled 290 miles from where it was last seen to to the coast of Guadalcanal at seas level, and ditched off Domo Cove.

Fates of the Crew
At the time, the Domo Cove area was behind Japanese lines. At least two of the crew got ashore. The Takeda Unit (C.O. 1st Lt Yoshi Takeda), Aoba Battalion captured pilot Charles Norton on September 30th, but he "died as reached the place" (Battalion HQ?). This might mean he was executed. There is no mention of the other crew. Sgt Osborne also got ashore but it is not know what happened to him. His skeleton was later found near the shore by USN Seabees in late January 1944. The rest of the crew remains MIA.

Wreckage
On January 29, 1944 the 61st US Navy Seabees located the B-17 on its belly. Two days later, divers explored the wreckage and found no indication of a fire aboard, but noted bullet holes in the fuselage, and discovered four parachutes inside. The tail gunner's section was badly burnt. An explosion rear of the wings had broken the fuselage. The right wing was broken off at the body with only a small fragment intact. The engines were intact but between No.1 and No. 2 engines on the left wing was a large hole. Their search discovered no bones inside.

Captain George Sagli was also present on the morning of January 31, 1944 when they attempted to recover the fuselage and tail assembly of the B-17. He noted bullet holes in the fuselage and the fact it was covered in barnacles. They found a canteen with initials 'L.B' on the bottom.

SF1C S.C. Kelly, 61st Seabees reported:
"I hooked on to the tail skid and that section with par of the fuselage up to the wings was pulled ashore. The water was so riled it was impossible to see into the main section of the plane to examine further. To the best of my knowledge there were no bodied in that part of the plane that I could get into at that time."

On February 19, 1944 T/4 Robert W. Cannon, HQ Forward Area plus a CPO, three enlisted men and an officer of the 27th Seabees to examine the wreckage of the B-17 for bodies. They found several person effects, including the pilot's brief case with 'C.E. Norton' on it, but no bones.

Wreckage
This wreck rests in about 60 feet of water, in good condition. Located offshore at Domo (Ndomo) Village, twelve miles from Henderson Field. All the engines are intact on the plane, the nose is collapsed, but cockpit still in good shape, with even the pilot's seat intact. The top turret is easily visible, as is other scattered wreckage. The fuselage from the bomb bay back is missing, salvaged on January 31, 1944. The ball turret lies on the sand behind the fuselage.

Jeff Johnson dove the wreck in 1999:
"I dove the wreck 3 times and it is relatively intact. Talking with the local dive master, he said that the locals witnessed the crash and the Japanese captured two survivors who they later executed. Another thing I noticed is that two out of the four engines had been feathered."

Memorials
Bruce Osborne's local VFW post is named after him in his home town.

Relatives
David Tanner (great nephew of Eminger)
"Leo Eminger was part of the 38th Recon Sq. from Albuquerque, NM. Eminger was awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart.

Eminger were both with the 88th Recon Squadron from Albuquerque Army Air Field. Eminger was with Crew No. 4: B-17C 40-2063 became the first B-17 to land at Pearl Harbor during the attack on December 7, 1941. This was from the flight of B-17's that were to fly from Hickham to Hawaii and then to the Philippines.

Charles Norton was with Crew No. 6 which had to return to Hamilton Army Air Field due to engine trouble.

I have also discovered, through many publications and personal contacts with crew families, photos of the pilot (Charles E. Norton), the co-pilot (Bruce B. S. Barker), and the bottom turret gunner (Fred S. Croyle). I am working on a photo of Bruce W. Osborne who is the only crew member listed as KIA because they found his bones."

References
Thanks to David Tanner for additional photos, news articles and crew photographs.
Fortress Against the Sun, pages 269-270
Flight Journal Magazine, by Franklin and Kathy Viola who also photographed Bessie (Dec. 2000)
William Bartsch for details on USN Seabee salvage

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Last Updated
November 8, 2009

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