Pacific Wrecks Forum

Thanks for that David. This is a loss both Justin and I were looking into recently.

The original article appeared on THE AGE website on February 22:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/ ... 37899.html

Great Work.

Does anyone have the AAF serial number for this B-17 handy?

How about a complete crew listing?

I will check my microfilm later on and see if I can provide the information. Don't have time presently.

Love to see these old ones get solved.

Tony Mireles
http://www.warbirdcrash.com

B-17 named "Pluto" might be AAF # 41-24384. More later.

Tony Mireles
http://www.warbirdcrash.com

Would anyone happen to know how to contact Ben Cropp?
I found his phone number, but can't track down his email address.

Friends,

I could not find an AAF Form # 14 Aircraft Accident Report for this B-17 on the microfilm reels.

Tony Mireles
http://www.warbirdcrash.com

There seems to be some conflicting information concerning the B-17 named Pluto.

The Wallace Foreman B-17 Nose Art Directory states that the B-17 named "PLUTO" is B-17 # 41-24384, 63BS/43BG.

The Roger Freeman B-17 Reference work states that B-17 # 41-24384 is named "SNOOPY" and was missing on Sept 17, 1942.

Anybody know the correct AAF serial number for this B-17?

Tony Mireles

Seems that there was a summary for this B-17 PLUTO hidden on this website the whole time. With serial number and crew listing. Wow. Can't determine what data base heading it is under. Any help? Thanks. Tony Mireles

Sorry guys, the PWD Profile for this aircraft can be found at:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b ... 24384.html
(I should have posted this earlier).

Is this the same wreck that was posted late last year? and the "finder" didn't want to release any info

It's not confirmed, though seems to meet all the same criteria.

So is it possible that it was Major Lindbergh's B-17?

Regards Peter Dunn
Australia @ War

I have now started a web site for General Ramey's B-17 crash in "Pluto":-

http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld217.htm

And another page of Major Allen Lindbergh's B-17 crash:-

http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld216.htm

Hi list,

I just wanted to say thank you for this thread. My grandfather, Stanley A. Loewenberg, was aboard the Pluto when it disappeared on March 26th. As you can all well imagine, the prospect that the Pluto has been found is quite an emotional experience.

A few years back, I did some research into the flight and managed to get the MACR from the U.S. government. If anyone would like to see any specific information, please let me know and I'll try to upload as much as possible. I also have some search information, and spoke to one of the pilots who went on an early recon flight. Sadly, the pilot's memory was quite soft and he didn't recall very much.

One correction I'd like to make in regards to the Pacific Wreck's flight details (http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b ... 24384.html): my grandfather is listed as the pilot. This is not correct. My grandfather was the Intelligence Officer, and to the best of my knowledge, he did not know how to fly.

Thank you to Peter Armati (Townsville), Peter Dunn, Janice Olson and Ben Cropp for all their help and assistance.

Hello,

I was the Pluto's navigator from Aug '42 through Mar '43 and to my knowledge am the last surviving crew member. We had flown a night bombing mission just prior to Pluto's crash and were scheduled to fly another in the next few days. The crew aboard at the time of crash were on a 'training hop'. We did not know that Gen. Ramey would be using Pluto for the training mission and some of my gear (Naval sextant) remained aboard at the time of the crash. I participated in several of the subsequent search missions and at the time we all suspected that they had been shot down by Japanese float planes that routinely patroled that area. I also provided the aircraft's name: 'Pluto' while the plane was being equipped at McClellan Air Base in Aug '42. Once equipped we flew to Hamilton Air Base, Hickam Air Base, Christmas Islands, Jarvis Island, Canton Island, Fiji Islands, New Caledonia, and Brisbane prior to basing in New Guinea.

I am interested in any updates on the search for / recover of Pluto or in making contact with members of the ground crew.

Joe Hirsh, Col, USAF (Ret.)

Welcome Joe. Amazing to have a link on here to Pluto. Hope some news is out soon about the wreck to satisfy your (and everyone's) curiosity.

Hope this finds you well.

Cheers

Andy