|  |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 28th BG 36th BS Former Assignments CWTD |
Pilot Major Marvin E. Walseth (KIA, BR) Eagle Bend, MN Crew Cpl Kenneth E. Nelson, 19052202 (KIA, BR) Portland, OR Crew ? (KIA, BR) Crew ? (KIA, BR) Crew ? (KIA, BR) Crew ? (KIA, BR) Crashed July 18, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2008. During November 1941, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) as B-17B Flying Fortress serial number 38-215 at March Field. Later, to the Sacramento Air Depot (SAD). On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Afterwards flown to Panama. In late 1940, B-17B 38-215 and B-17B 38-216 were prepared for assignment to the Cold Weather Testing Detachment (CWTD) at Ladd Field and had the armament and bomb racks removed with cold weather testing equipment installed instead. This bomber had a bare aluminum finish with high visibility orange wingtips and tails with the motif of a polar bear with a bomb and a large number 1 on the tail of 215 and 2 on the tail of 216. During October 1940, B-17B 38-215 and B-17B 38-216 were flown from March Field to Alaska transporting six officers and 18 enlisted men for assignment to the Cold Weather Testing Detachment (CWTD) at Ladd Field. Used for testing and flights in Alaska and sometimes used by General Simon Buckner, commander of Alaska Defense Forces as a personal transport. In late November 1940 flown by Lt. Marvin E. Walseth to Fort Yukon then over the Arctic Ocean. On December 1, 1940 flown to Nome Airfield to pickup locally made parkas and mucklucks (soft boots) made by locals. While operating in Alaska, several modifications were made for cold weather operations. By February 1941 this B-17 had flown a total of 324 hours in six months of operations in Alaska in temperatures as cold as -47° F to 50° F. On April 30, 1941 after a night flight, suffered the failure of a propeller governor that damaged the engine and was grounded until a new engine was available. By the end of May 1941 repaired and resumed flying and made a non-stop flight from Alaska to Sacramento flying 2,400 miles in 11 hours. Over the next month, fully overhauled and modified with some features of a newer C model including the removal of the tear drop waist blister with flush openings. Afterwards, flown in the United States. During July 1941 flown back to Ladd Field. Wartime History In December 1941, at the start of the Pacific War, this bomber was one of the few modern bombers in Alaska but was assigned to the CWTD attached to Wright Field. During early 1942, assigned to the 28th Bombardment Group (28th BG) / 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 36th Bombardment Squadron (36th BS). The bomber retained the prewar high visibility scheme of bare aluminum and orange high visibility markings. During May 1942 assigned to defend the NW Sea Frontier Command and flown by Lt. Jack Marks and Lt. Richard Ragle to Kodiak where they were attached to U.S. Navy (USN) Patrol Wing 4 (PatWing 4). On May 26, 1942 returned Ladd Field and begins flying daily missions. During 1942, nicknamed "Old Seventy" for unknown reasons, possibly her radio call sign while attached to the Navy and became it was an older bomber. This was not an official nickname, nor was it painted on the bomber but was what air crews and pilots called this bomber. On June 2, 1942 took off from Ladd Field pilot by Lt. Marks and Lt. Ragle on a flight to Umnak Airfield and immediately refueled and took off again to fly a patrol to search for Japanese warships off Alaska but experienced bad weather and returning flew below the weather at 250' and followed Japanese planes and bombed what they believed was the Japanese fleet then returned to land on June 3, 1943 at 5:30am. Afterwards, flew constant patrols but never made any other sightings. On June 4, 1942 during a mission due to a violent maneuver to avoid a mountain peak and lost her bomb bay doors and was forced to shut down the no. 2 engine when its cowling came loose and struck the propeller. Flying at a reduced speed, intercepted by Japanese planes but evaded them in bad weather. On June 6, 1942 at 4:35am took off on a patrol then again at 11:50am on a second patrol and 3:45pm on a third patrol when one of the engines failed and attempted to reach Anchorage but instead landed at Naknek at 11:20pm and made emergency repairs and took off again. On June 7, 1942 grounded by a faulty fuel transfer pump that was damaged two days prior and was repaired. On June 9, 1942 took off on a bombing mission with B-24 Liberators against Kiska but was too slow to keep up with the other bombers but flew the mission. On June 10, 1942 took off on another bombing mission against Kiska but two engines failed and aborted the mission and was grounded due to a lack of compression in the bad engines and was carefully flown to Ladd Field for replacements. At Ladd Field, painted with live drab upper surfaces and redesigned as a YB-17B for use as a weather reconnaissance flights and was deemed too slow and vulnerable for bombing missions and was assigned to pilot Major Walseth who had been promoted and flown the bomber previously. During June 1942 participated in combat missions against Japanese warships in Alaska. On June 4, 1942 participated in an air battle over Umnak Island. Mission History On July 18, 1942 took off piloted by Major Marvin E. Walseth with a crew of six on a solo weather and photographic reconnaissance mission over Kiska. Returning, the weather was bad with visibility little as 100' with sea fog. It was believed Major Walseth was flying in bad weather following the coast of Umnak Island then crashed. When this bomber failed to return, it was officially listed a Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage Several days afterwards, the crash site was found near Cape Udak on Umnak Island. It was believed Major Walseth was flying in bad weather following the coast before the crash. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the crew were recovered and buried near Nikolski village a short distance from the crash site. Later, their remains were exhumed and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Walseth is buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Burlington Township, MN. Nelson is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery in section B site 674. The identity of the other four crew are unknown, each is likely buried in their hometown in the United States or a National Cemetery. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Kenneth E. Nelson USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17B Flying Fortress 38-220 "215 attached to Cold Weather Testing Detachment at Ladd Field, Alaska 1941-42. Participated in bomb strikes against Japanese fleet during the Dutch Harbor operation and was involved in air battle above Umnak Pass June 4, 1942. Crashed Jul 18, 1942 while returning from weather recon to Kiska. All 6 crew KIA." FindAGrave - Marvin Ernest Walseth (photo, grave photos) FindAGrave - Corp Kenneth E. Nelson (grave photo) Old Seventy; Requiem for a B-17 by Steve Dennis June 26, 2009 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 19, 2021
|
 B-17 |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
