In the waning days of the Second World War, Allied air forces continued their relentless campaign to cripple what remained of Germany’s defenses and infrastructure. Among the countless missions flown was that of Wee Willie, a B-17G Flying Fortress from the 322nd Bomb Squadron. On April 8, 1945, while returning from a bombing run, the aircraft was struck by concentrated German anti-aircraft fire.
The blast tore through Wee Willie’s fuselage, igniting a catastrophic fire that left the bomber spiraling out of control. Nearby crews could only watch in horror as the plane broke apart midair and fell in a trail of smoke and flame. One accompanying airman, in a moment of grim duty, managed to photograph the final seconds before the aircraft vanished from sight—an image that would later become one of the most haunting visual records of the air war over Europe.
Those photographs stand today as a solemn testament to the bravery of the bomber crews who faced staggering odds, often completing dozens of missions knowing that each one could be their last.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie
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
At dawn on April 8, 1945, the B-17G Flying Fortress known as Wee Willie lifted off from Air Force Station 121 at RAF Bassingbourn. Though accounts vary, this sortie was recorded as either the crew’s 128th or 129th combat mission. Commanded by 1st Lt. Robert E. Fuller, the bomber carried an experienced team: 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.
Operating under the 332nd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), Wee Willie joined seventy-two other B-17s bound for the rail-repair installations at the Stendal marshalling yards in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Heavy clouds blanketed the region, obscuring visual contact with the target and compelling the crews to rely on H2S radar to guide their bombing run. As they neared Stendal, German flak batteries opened fire, filling the sky with lethal bursts—a constant peril for crews venturing deep into hostile airspace.
Downing of the Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Wee Willie
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’
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
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.
More from us: What Is the Real Story Behind WWII’s Famous Crying Child-Soldier Photograph?
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.