POPCORN FORT 92nd BG B-17

Attacked by FW-190 Fighters, the B-17 named Popcorn Fort was attacked from below.  Fighters were unseen until almost upon the formation due to a heavy undercast.  After the plane was hit the pilot continued to fly with the formation for approximately 10 minutes.  The wing caught fire and the order to bail out was given.  As the crew prepared to bail out the wing broke at the root and folded against the aircraft.  The aircraft then went into a spin and then exploded. Seven crewmembers were blown free and parachuted safely to the ground only to be captured by the German authorities.  Two crewmembers were trapped in the aircraft and two were blown out of the aircraft, but the explosion blew their parachutes off their harness and both men fell to their death.