From: http://www.457thbombgroup.org/FATE/RLF048.HTML
Mission Narrative
Mission No. 120
Date - September 10, 1944
Target - Gaggenau, Col. with 42-97451
Plane s/n 42-97456, name "Mighty Little John," and flown by Lt Homer M. Passmore, collided with another plane of the 457th while on the way to the target at Gaggenau. The second plane, s/n 42-97451, piloted by Lt Harold Gay, sustained minor damage and the plane was able to return to the base at Glatton. "Mighty Little John" was cut in half near the waist by the props of the other plane. The front half fell like a "falling leaf" and exploded on impact with the ground. The Navigator bailed out of the nose hatch at about 5000 ft after much difficulty opening the hatch. The tail gunner floated down in the tail section and bailed out at about 16,000 ft. Both parts spiraled down and the navigator and tail gunner where the only two to escape. The crew was as follows:
Ball Turret Gunner Sgt Elmer H. Abel KIA
Sergeant Elmer Herman Abel, born 12 Aug 1925, was the son of Arnold L and Minnie (Staiger) Abel of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
In the 1930 census 4-year-old Elmer is living with his parents and brother Arnold Jr 8, at 1143 N Lawndale Avenue in Chicago. His father is a shipping clerk for a paper company.
In the 1940 census 14-year-old Elmer is living with his parents and brother Arnold 18, at 3544 W Evergreen Avenue in Chicago. His father is an accountant for a paper company.
On his Aug 1943 draft registration Elmer is living at home at 4955 West Huron Street in Chicago and working for the American Railway Express Company.
Elmer was ball turret gunner on B-17 42-97456 "Mighty Little John" piloted by Lt Homer M Passmore. On 10 Sep 1944 the target was the Daimler-Benz Diesel Works at Gaggenau, Germany. Gaggenau is east of the Rhine River and 47 miles due west of Stuttgart.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Illinois show Abel, Elmer H, Sgt from Cook County as killed in action 10 Sep 1944. Elmer's plane collided with B-17 42-97451 piloted by Lt Harold Gay and was cut in half in the waist section by the propellers of Lt Gay's plane. Only the navigator and tail gunner in Elmer's plane were able to bail out and survive. Lt Gay's plane sustained minor damage and was able to return to base. MACR 15928.
2nd Lt. Jerome W. Page, navigator, bailed out of the front part through the escape hatch at about 5000 feet and after some difficulty in opening hatch. Lt. Page says waist gunner and ball turret were in waist at time of accident. Lt. Page says their bodies were found and that he identified them. Lt. Page says American soldiers saw the accident and told him they saw only two chutes and one possible body which fell without a chute. Both Lt. Page and Sgt. Chimerinsky believe no one parachuted to safety except themselves. AC #42-97456 was flying #6 in low squadron of high box and A/C #42-97451 was flying #3 in same squadron. #42-97451 was in position. Sun glare apparently caused #42-97456 to pull up suddenly. Collision of the two A/C resulted.
B-17 42-97456 "Mighty Little John". Tail number 297456. 42 was year plane was built. All tail numbers left off the 4 because all planes were built in years starting with 4.
Mission Narrative
Mission No. 120
Date - September 10, 1944
Target - Gaggenau, Col. with 42-97451
Plane s/n 42-97456, name "Mighty Little John," and flown by Lt Homer M. Passmore, collided with another plane of the 457th while on the way to the target at Gaggenau. The second plane, s/n 42-97451, piloted by Lt Harold Gay, sustained minor damage and the plane was able to return to the base at Glatton. "Mighty Little John" was cut in half near the waist by the props of the other plane. The front half fell like a "falling leaf" and exploded on impact with the ground. The Navigator bailed out of the nose hatch at about 5000 ft after much difficulty opening the hatch. The tail gunner floated down in the tail section and bailed out at about 16,000 ft. Both parts spiraled down and the navigator and tail gunner where the only two to escape. The crew was as follows:
Ball Turret Gunner Sgt Elmer H. Abel KIA
Sergeant Elmer Herman Abel, born 12 Aug 1925, was the son of Arnold L and Minnie (Staiger) Abel of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
In the 1930 census 4-year-old Elmer is living with his parents and brother Arnold Jr 8, at 1143 N Lawndale Avenue in Chicago. His father is a shipping clerk for a paper company.
In the 1940 census 14-year-old Elmer is living with his parents and brother Arnold 18, at 3544 W Evergreen Avenue in Chicago. His father is an accountant for a paper company.
On his Aug 1943 draft registration Elmer is living at home at 4955 West Huron Street in Chicago and working for the American Railway Express Company.
Elmer was ball turret gunner on B-17 42-97456 "Mighty Little John" piloted by Lt Homer M Passmore. On 10 Sep 1944 the target was the Daimler-Benz Diesel Works at Gaggenau, Germany. Gaggenau is east of the Rhine River and 47 miles due west of Stuttgart.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Illinois show Abel, Elmer H, Sgt from Cook County as killed in action 10 Sep 1944. Elmer's plane collided with B-17 42-97451 piloted by Lt Harold Gay and was cut in half in the waist section by the propellers of Lt Gay's plane. Only the navigator and tail gunner in Elmer's plane were able to bail out and survive. Lt Gay's plane sustained minor damage and was able to return to base. MACR 15928.
2nd Lt. Jerome W. Page, navigator, bailed out of the front part through the escape hatch at about 5000 feet and after some difficulty in opening hatch. Lt. Page says waist gunner and ball turret were in waist at time of accident. Lt. Page says their bodies were found and that he identified them. Lt. Page says American soldiers saw the accident and told him they saw only two chutes and one possible body which fell without a chute. Both Lt. Page and Sgt. Chimerinsky believe no one parachuted to safety except themselves. AC #42-97456 was flying #6 in low squadron of high box and A/C #42-97451 was flying #3 in same squadron. #42-97451 was in position. Sun glare apparently caused #42-97456 to pull up suddenly. Collision of the two A/C resulted.
B-17 42-97456 "Mighty Little John". Tail number 297456. 42 was year plane was built. All tail numbers left off the 4 because all planes were built in years starting with 4.
From: http://www.457thbombgroup.org/FATE/RLF048.HTML
Mission Narrative
Mission No. 120
Date - September 10, 1944
Target - Gaggenau, Col. with 42-97451
Plane s/n 42-97456, name "Mighty Little John," and flown by Lt Homer M. Passmore, collided with another plane of the 457th while on the way to the target at Gaggenau. The second plane, s/n 42-97451, piloted by Lt Harold Gay, sustained minor damage and the plane was able to return to the base at Glatton. "Mighty Little John" was cut in half near the waist by the props of the other plane. The front half fell like a "falling leaf" and exploded on impact with the ground. The Navigator bailed out of the nose hatch at about 5000 ft after much difficulty opening the hatch. The tail gunner floated down in the tail section and bailed out at about 16,000 ft. Both parts spiraled down and the navigator and tail gunner where the only two to escape. The crew was as follows:
Ball Turret Gunner Sgt Elmer H. Abel KIA
Sergeant Elmer Herman Abel, born 12 Aug 1925, was the son of Arnold L and Minnie (Staiger) Abel of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
In the 1930 census 4-year-old Elmer is living with his parents and brother Arnold Jr 8, at 1143 N Lawndale Avenue in Chicago. His father is a shipping clerk for a paper company.
In the 1940 census 14-year-old Elmer is living with his parents and brother Arnold 18, at 3544 W Evergreen Avenue in Chicago. His father is an accountant for a paper company.
On his Aug 1943 draft registration Elmer is living at home at 4955 West Huron Street in Chicago and working for the American Railway Express Company.
Elmer was ball turret gunner on B-17 42-97456 "Mighty Little John" piloted by Lt Homer M Passmore. On 10 Sep 1944 the target was the Daimler-Benz Diesel Works at Gaggenau, Germany. Gaggenau is east of the Rhine River and 47 miles due west of Stuttgart.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Illinois show Abel, Elmer H, Sgt from Cook County as killed in action 10 Sep 1944. Elmer's plane collided with B-17 42-97451 piloted by Lt Harold Gay and was cut in half in the waist section by the propellers of Lt Gay's plane. Only the navigator and tail gunner in Elmer's plane were able to bail out and survive. Lt Gay's plane sustained minor damage and was able to return to base. MACR 15928.
2nd Lt. Jerome W. Page, navigator, bailed out of the front part through the escape hatch at about 5000 feet and after some difficulty in opening hatch. Lt. Page says waist gunner and ball turret were in waist at time of accident. Lt. Page says their bodies were found and that he identified them. Lt. Page says American soldiers saw the accident and told him they saw only two chutes and one possible body which fell without a chute. Both Lt. Page and Sgt. Chimerinsky believe no one parachuted to safety except themselves. AC #42-97456 was flying #6 in low squadron of high box and A/C #42-97451 was flying #3 in same squadron. #42-97451 was in position. Sun glare apparently caused #42-97456 to pull up suddenly. Collision of the two A/C resulted.
B-17 42-97456 "Mighty Little John". Tail number 297456. 42 was year plane was built. All tail numbers left off the 4 because all planes were built in years starting with 4.
Mission Narrative
Mission No. 120
Date - September 10, 1944
Target - Gaggenau, Col. with 42-97451
Plane s/n 42-97456, name "Mighty Little John," and flown by Lt Homer M. Passmore, collided with another plane of the 457th while on the way to the target at Gaggenau. The second plane, s/n 42-97451, piloted by Lt Harold Gay, sustained minor damage and the plane was able to return to the base at Glatton. "Mighty Little John" was cut in half near the waist by the props of the other plane. The front half fell like a "falling leaf" and exploded on impact with the ground. The Navigator bailed out of the nose hatch at about 5000 ft after much difficulty opening the hatch. The tail gunner floated down in the tail section and bailed out at about 16,000 ft. Both parts spiraled down and the navigator and tail gunner where the only two to escape. The crew was as follows:
Ball Turret Gunner Sgt Elmer H. Abel KIA
Sergeant Elmer Herman Abel, born 12 Aug 1925, was the son of Arnold L and Minnie (Staiger) Abel of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
In the 1930 census 4-year-old Elmer is living with his parents and brother Arnold Jr 8, at 1143 N Lawndale Avenue in Chicago. His father is a shipping clerk for a paper company.
In the 1940 census 14-year-old Elmer is living with his parents and brother Arnold 18, at 3544 W Evergreen Avenue in Chicago. His father is an accountant for a paper company.
On his Aug 1943 draft registration Elmer is living at home at 4955 West Huron Street in Chicago and working for the American Railway Express Company.
Elmer was ball turret gunner on B-17 42-97456 "Mighty Little John" piloted by Lt Homer M Passmore. On 10 Sep 1944 the target was the Daimler-Benz Diesel Works at Gaggenau, Germany. Gaggenau is east of the Rhine River and 47 miles due west of Stuttgart.
The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for Illinois show Abel, Elmer H, Sgt from Cook County as killed in action 10 Sep 1944. Elmer's plane collided with B-17 42-97451 piloted by Lt Harold Gay and was cut in half in the waist section by the propellers of Lt Gay's plane. Only the navigator and tail gunner in Elmer's plane were able to bail out and survive. Lt Gay's plane sustained minor damage and was able to return to base. MACR 15928.
2nd Lt. Jerome W. Page, navigator, bailed out of the front part through the escape hatch at about 5000 feet and after some difficulty in opening hatch. Lt. Page says waist gunner and ball turret were in waist at time of accident. Lt. Page says their bodies were found and that he identified them. Lt. Page says American soldiers saw the accident and told him they saw only two chutes and one possible body which fell without a chute. Both Lt. Page and Sgt. Chimerinsky believe no one parachuted to safety except themselves. AC #42-97456 was flying #6 in low squadron of high box and A/C #42-97451 was flying #3 in same squadron. #42-97451 was in position. Sun glare apparently caused #42-97456 to pull up suddenly. Collision of the two A/C resulted.
B-17 42-97456 "Mighty Little John". Tail number 297456. 42 was year plane was built. All tail numbers left off the 4 because all planes were built in years starting with 4.
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SGT 751st Bomber Squadron
457th Bomber Group-Heavy Illinois
US Army Air Forces
World War II
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