Two bombers were lost during an air raid over Stendal, Germany, and haunting photographs captured the final moments of the plane known as ‘Wee Willie’

Photo Credit: United States Army Air Forces / National Museum of the USAF / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain (Colorized by Palette.fm)
Photo Credit: United States Army Air Forces / National Museum of the USAF / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain (Colorized by Palette.fm)

As the Second World War entered its final months, Allied bombing campaigns over Germany grew more relentless, focusing on crippling the Nazi regime’s industrial and military capabilities. On April 8, 1945, during one such mission, a B-17G Flying Fortress known as Wee Willie was hit by German anti-aircraft fire and fatally damaged. The bomber’s tragic descent was seen by a fellow airman aboard another aircraft, who captured a series of chilling photographs as Wee Willie broke apart in midair. These images would later stand as some of the most haunting and iconic visual testaments to the brutal air war fought over Europe.

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie

Nose art on the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Wee Willie'
Nose art on the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie. (Photo Credit: Roger Freeman Collection / American Air Museum / Imperial War Museums CC BY-NC 3.0)

Wee Willie, a B-17G-15-B0 with the serial number 42-31333, was the 302nd B-17G Flying Fortress produced at Boeing Airplane Company’s Plant 2 in Seattle, Washington. Delivered to the US Army Air Forces in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in October 1943, the heavy bomber was later transported to RAF Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.

Once in the UK, Wee Willie was assigned to the 322nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), part of the 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 1st Air Division, 8th Air Force.

At the time of its loss, the aircraft held the distinction of being the longest-serving aircraft within the 91st and was among the final planes to be lost to enemy action before the German surrender.

Preparing to bomb German railroad facilities

Crew of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Wee Willie' standing near the aircraft
Combat crew of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie. (Photo Credit: Al_Skiff / Fold3 / American Air Museum / Imperial War Museums CC BY-NC 3.0)

On April 8, 1945, the B-17G Wee Willie departed from Air Force Station 121 at RAF Bassingbourn for what would become its 128th or 129th combat mission—records vary slightly depending on the source. Piloted by 1st Lt. Robert E. Fuller of the U.S. Army Air Forces, the bomber carried a full crew: Sgt. Le Moyne Miller, 2nd Lt. Woodrow A. Lien, Staff Sgt. James D. Houtchens, Tech. Sgt. Francis J. McCarthy, Staff Sgt. Ralf J. Leffelman, Staff Sgt. Wylie McNatt Jr., and Staff Sgt. William H. Cassiday.

Assigned to the 332nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Wee Willie was one of 73 B-17s tasked with striking the railroad repair facilities in the marshaling yards at Stendal, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Despite heavy cloud cover obscuring the target, the crew pressed on using H2S ground-search radar to guide their bombing run. As they neared the objective, they faced bursts of moderate flak from German anti-aircraft batteries—a constant and deadly threat that loomed over every mission.

Downing of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Wee Willie' falling through the sky with one of its wings detached
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie falling apart after a direct hit by German flak, April 1945. (Photo Credit: Roger Freeman Collection / American Air Museum / Imperial War Museums CC BY-NC 3.0)

During the mission, German anti-aircraft fire caused minor damage to 13 Allied bombers and severely damaged four others. Out of the 73 aircraft participating, only two were completely lost, including the B-17G Wee Willie. Wee Willie was hit directly by an 88 mm flak shell between its #2 engine and bomb bay, sending it into a steep, vertical dive.

An eyewitness described the scene: “The fuselage was on fire and when it had dropped approximately 5,000 feet [1,524 meters] the left wing fell off. It continued down and when the fuselage was about 3,000 feet [914.4 meters] from the ground it exploded and then exploded again when it hit the ground.”

Wee Willie had a crew of nine, with Lt. Fuller as the sole survivor. Reports suggest he was ejected from the cockpit by the initial explosion, successfully deployed his parachute, and landed safely. However, he was captured by German forces shortly after landing, and his fate following the incident remains unknown.

The entire event was documented on film by an automatic strike camera mounted on another B-17, capturing footage from the release of the first bombs until the film ran out.

Loss of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Times A-Wastin’

Crew of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Times A-Wastin' standing near the aircraft
Combat crew of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Times A-Wastin’. (Photo Credit: Roger Freeman Collection / American Air Museum / Imperial War Museums CC BY-NC 3.0)

During the air raid, the second bomber lost was a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress named Times A-Wastin’. This aircraft, identified as B-17G-50-B0 with serial number 42-102504, was part of the 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy) and was flown by Lt. Peter Pastras.

Lt. Mike Fodroci, a navigator on another B-17, witnessed the moment Times A-Wastin’ was destroyed. He later recalled that German anti-aircraft fire hit the bomber in its bomb bay, likely killing Lt. Pastras instantly.

“The ship pulled up and veered to the right, climbing directly over our ship,” he recalled. “Captain Shelby put our ship into a dive so steep that I was thrown up against the astro hatch of the ceiling of the nose – seems I hung there for a brief second or two. I also observed that a bad fire was burning on the aircraft’s forward bomb bay area and that the co-pilot was trying to climb out of the small window with his back pack on. Somehow, we saw three chutes emerge from #504 as she spun toward the earth.”

Out of the crew aboard Times A-Wastin’, only two survived. Radio operator Bob A. Smith and flight engineer/top turret gunner Lyle Jones were captured by the Germans and, like Lt. Fuller, became prisoners of war.

Despite the loss of two bombers, the mission was deemed a success

Remnants of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Wee Willie' shrouded in flames and smoke while it falls through the sky
Left wing of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie passing over the fuselage after it disconnected from the aircraft after a direct hit by German flak, April 1945. (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force / Al_Skiff / This Day In AviationAmerican Air Museum / Imperial War Museums CC BY-NC 3.0)

Even though the B-17Gs Wee Willie and Times A-Wastin’ were lost during the April 8, 1945 raid on Stendal, the mission achieved its objective. According to the 322nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), the bombs struck the railroad marshaling yards as planned, dealing a blow to German supply lines.

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The photos taken that day have preserved Wee Willie’s final moments in vivid detail. The haunting image of the bomber with its left wing sheared off has become one of the most powerful visual reminders of the risks faced by Allied airmen, capturing the intensity and sacrifice of the war’s final months.

Clare Fitzgerald

Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from King’s University College at Western University, her portfolio includes coverage of digital media, current affairs, history and true crime.

Among her accomplishments are being the Founder of the true crime blog, Stories of the Unsolved, which garners between 400,000 and 500,000 views annually, and a contributor for John Lordan’s Seriously Mysterious podcast. Prior to its hiatus, she also served as the Head of Content for UK YouTube publication, TenEighty Magazine.

In her spare time, Clare likes to play Pokemon GO and re-watch Heartland over and over (and over) again. She’ll also rave about her three Maltese dogs whenever she gets the chance.

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