A B-17 In Flight: But What's Its Story?

I found these two photos in a flea market one Sunday morning in New York. (Apologies for that rather smug-sounding sentence, but it is nevertheless 100% true.)

They caught my eye because they were both pin sharp and very well preserved, and obviously taken in mid-air.

I also noticed that a tail number was clearly visible in the first photo:

With this information, and a bit of googling, I could track this precise aircraft down. 

According to this link, B-17 46414 was assigned to the USAF Second Bomb Group (Heavy), 96th Squadron, which was based in France, Tunisia and Italy during WW2. 46414 flew 55 missions, and ended up at the Kingman aircraft graveyard, where it was presumably broken down for scrap.

www.2ndbombgroup.org has lots of great information. It also has the story archived here, which I'm going to reproduce in full, as I *think* it might be about the exact aircraft in the photo. I'm not 100% sure, because the ID number the story quotes has an extra '4' on the front of it. But there was no B-17 446414 that I can find, so perhaps that was just a typo? Anyway, if anyone can shed any further light, or indeed suggest when/where the photos would have been taken, I'd be very much obliged...

Here's the story.

Just received a copy of letter to Earl Martin, Historian, from Kim Lindaberry
son of the late Sgt. Harold L. Lindaberry, Jr. a crew  member of  2nd Lt. 
Frank Rickman's  crew on Mission 337 to Brux,  Czechoslovakia to bomb the 
Synthetic Oil Refinery.

Kim's letter:

"It has been almost a year since I began researching some of the events of my
father's  service during W. W. II and written with you all. I just wanted to touch 
base with you guys and share a little of what I've found out so far."

After digging through the Second Bombardment Association's roster 
of members I sent out several letters to gentlemen that had names that
matched with names on photos found in my father's belongings.  I was
sure surprised when I got a phone call several months ago from one of
the men that served with my father. They trained together and flew to
Foggia together.  I have been in touch with the radio operator that was
on the same crew as my dad when they were shot down on December 25,
1944.  The radio operator, William (Bill) Forehand, has sent me his hand 
written recollection of the event.  I thought I would share it with you. I 
know that the "Second was First" and "Defenders of Liberty" do not
 list this particular event, but I have to say in my opinion a handwritten
account from a crew member is about as good as it can get when it
comes validation of the story.  Here is a condensed version of what
he wrote:

Flying B-17 #446414 on 12/25/1944 they lost an engine due to flak over
target Brux.  Soon after they lost a second engine (and at some point they
eventually lost a third, unknown if it was before or after the Alps) After
barely making it past the Alps the pilot sent our a Mayday and they prepared
to ditch in the Adriatic.  British Air-Sea Rescue sent a Supermarine Walrus 
 Seaplane to rescue the crew once they had ditched. Before ditching the 
Walrus relayed a communication that indicated a short landing strip 
abandoned by the German Air Force near the beach at Ancona. The British
8th Army had driven the German 10th back far enough for the British to
occupy the landing strip.  At the last moment the decision was made to try
the strip instead of ditching in the freezing Adriatic.  Upon landing the 
B-17 went off the end of the strip and got its wheels mired in the mud.
The battle line between the British Eight and the German 10th Armies was
close enough that they could hear the noise from the confrontation. 

They were treated well by the Brits who shared their Christmas rations
and cheer with the crew.  The British also notified USAAF command of
the situation.  With 3 engines our of commission and wheels stuck in the
mud the next day the crew returned to Foggia via Army Truck.



2nd Lt. James F. Rickman, Crew 96th Squadron 2nd Bomb Group
Standing L-R
Sgt. Harold (Whitey) L. Lindaberry, Armorer, Pompton Lakes, NJ
Cpl. Wilbur Bennett, Engineer, Sidney NE
Cpl. Thomas Bryant, Waist Gunner, Wynne, AK
Sgt. Benjamin Prostic, Ball Turret, Baltimore, Maryland
Cpl. Thomas Benedick, Tail Gunner, Lolo, Montana
Below L-R
Cpl. William (Bill) Forehand, Radio Operator, Portsmouth VI
2nd Lt. Edward A. Gates, Copilot, Milwaukee, WI
2nd Lt. James F. Rickman, Pilot, Chapelhill TE
F/O  Isaac Bowman, Navigator, Wilmington, DE