US Army Air Force

B-17 Almost cut in half

U.S.A.A.F

B-17 F, The All American, a member of the 414th Squadron of the 97th Bomb Group was hit by a Me-109 whose pilot was probably dead or unconscious. The 109 sliced through the aft section of the B-17 cutting the left elevator clean off. Having just completed a bombing mission over Tunisia the pilot still had an hour and a half of flying time back to his base in Biskra. He landed safely and the rear of the plane collapsed. To the best of my memory I do not believe any crew members were killed.