B-17 loss near Forst/Lausitz in Brandenburg

[ChristianK]

Gentlemen,

I just stumbled across this article in a german newspaper, describing the discovery of what is thought to be a B-17 engine near the city of Forst (Lausitz) in Lower Lusatia, Germany: http://www.lr-online.de/regionen/forst/Raetsel-um-Forster-Flugzeugwrack-geloest;art1052,3518982

German and American authorities have been informed. The locals connect this finding with the mission 832 to nearby Cottbus, Ruhland and Dresden on 15 February 1945. USAAF Chronology list only one B-17 loss for this day (Which one and were?) It could have been any other earlier or later mission in the area of course. For example 11 April 1944 or 29 May 1944. Any idea which B-17 this could have been?

Regards,
Christian

[FrankieS]

On 15.02.1945 three B-17 were lost:

42-31887 Big Casino, 95BG 335BS, pilot Schaad, crash 49-130 Tułowice (Poland)

43-38015 Lazy Lady, 487BG, pilot Eugene Wolfenberger, forced landing 3040 Sint-Agatha-Rode (Belgium)

44-8253, 463BG 773BS, crash: Austria

[FrankieS]

For 11.04.1944 at least 54 B-17 losses:
42-31248 92 325 Sorau bei Bohnsdorf D
42-30433 GL-U Miss Donna Lee 94 410 2.Lt Merrill D. Vaughan Arnimswalde Stoltebüll D
42-39869 Heaven Can Wait 95 412 Bannerman Rostock Bandelsdorf D
42-31896 96 339 Rostock Landkirchen D
42-31782 AW-Z 96 337 Rostock Kiesby (vermutlich) D
42-38149 305 364 Stettin ?Paplitz D
42-31375 BK-S 384 546 J. Rich Sorau Braunschweig D
42-97241 388 563 18230 Rerik D
42-39820 401 614 Steinhagen D
42-97083 Flatbush Floogie 452 728 Gardner near Minsen D
42-37876 95 412 2nd Lt Eugene T. Schiappacasse 9 MIA, 1 KIA Poznan/Rostock Ostsee (S to Bornholm)
42-3535 96 339 2. Lt Kenneth E. Bethe Poznan Varpelev DK
42-29939 96 338 2nd Lt William J. Young Poznan Ostsee (near Bornholm?) DK
42-31427 305 364 1st Lt Calvin Vanee 10 POW Stettin Ostsee (30 miles E off Tejn) DK
42-31156 Big Stoop 447 708 1st Lt Howard S. Pauling Arminswalde(attack= secondary Stettin) ?Poznan Ibsker DK
42-39929 91 322 SE
42-31362 Alcohol Annie 92 326 Richard W. Donaher Rinkaby SE
42-97155 94 333 SE
42-97212 96 339 Gillespie Sherman Malmö SE
42-107067 447 709 SE
42-39995 Cow Town Boogie 452 731 Schimmel . near Angelhome SE
42-97088 457 UK
42-107044 92 325
42-97243 92 325
42-97240 92 325
42-31587 92 325
42-31548 92 325
42-30649 92 327
42-97086 American Maid 94 332 Totushek
42-37918 94 333
42-37935 95 336
42-31798 95 412 Rostock
42-31835 95 334 Rostock
42-32019 95 336
42-97223 95 412
42-37920 96 338
42-97089 96 338
42-97129 96 337
42-3322 96 339
42-5885 96 413
42-31447 96 338
42-37931 305
42-38019 306 369
42-31385 306 369
42-31497 381 534
42-3337 385 548
42-37977 385 549
42-30197 385 549
42-32003 388 561
42-97192 388 562
42-97255 388 563
42-39881 401 614
42-39979 401 612
42-39847 401 614

[FrankieS]

For 29.05.1944 at least 23 B-17 losses:
42-31857 97 340 Wollersdorf Flugplatz Ransdorf A
42-97808 452 729 Lowell near Grand-Leez BE
42-37877 92 325 Avery Posen Torgau ?Arswalde/Choszczno D
42-107011 100 418 Williams Torgau D
42-97573 384 545 Moore Krzeiny ?Krzesinki Stralsund/NW of Peenemunde D
42-39953 Flying Coffin/Dutch Cleaner/Yankee Doodle Dandy 390 569 Nesbitt Leipzig near Leipzig D
42-107052 447 710 Moran Leipzig Seegeritz D
42-31358 Princess Pat II 452 729 Parvin Jr near Goddula/Bad Dürrenberg D
42-3279 Hells Bells / Badger Beauty 25 or 802 (ex100) 350 MJ LorenzDingle; off the coast of County Kerry on the west cost of Ireland IR
42-32076 91 401 Guenther SE
42-97314 Pop 92 327 Trost Victor J Bulltofta SE
42-31924 Ol Dog 95 334 Ulrich Leipzig
42-5858 95 336 Clark
42-29689 95 334 Watson
42-29709 95 335 Nunes
42-97580 301 353
42-30347 301 419
42-31475 305 364 Wilkinson
42-102699 305 365 Hanson
42-38176 305 366 Kass
42-102946 388 562 Lt. P. Callahan Leipzig
42-31466 Sitting Pretty 390 569 Shymanski Leipzig Rochefort
42-97549 452 728 Brogan

[ChristianK]

Thanks a lot Frankie for this extensive list! I will check it in the next days but I think we can rule out 15 February 1945 already. Thanks again!

Christian

[Henk Welting]

Those who recovered the wrecked engine just may come up with the engine numbers to find the serial number of the B17. Engine numbers and machine gun numbers are all on the MACR. We could be of help upon request.
Regards,
Henk.

[ChristianK]

Thanks Henk:). I have contacted the local history association, awaiting their response.

Regards,
Christian

[ChristianK]

Gentlemen,
at last Christoph Malcherowitz from the "Museumverein Peitz e.V." had sent me some photos of parts from the loss in question.

Unfortunately the engine is currently only awaiting its cleaning, so the engine number will not be known until next year. Perhaps you guys can draw any conclusions from these photos anyway.

Some additional infos from Mr Malcherowitz: Also found whas some .50 caliber ammunition with the following marks: SL 43, TW 4, DM 4, FA 44, RA 43.

Other smaller parts had the numbers 84 1127
605 and 84 1513? 513 marked on them.

According to Mr Malcherowitz the plane arrived from the east and tried a forced landing right next to the Neisse river near Forst/Lausitz.

Can anyone help? Is it an american B-17 or some soviet lend-lease aircraft? More photos follow in a second posting..

[ChristianK]

And the second part...

[ChristianK]

Some additional info from an earlier article, when this plane was thought to be a soviet Po-2: http://www.lr-online.de/regionen/weisswasser/-bdquo-Nachthexen-ldquo-ueber-der-Neisse-;art13826,3399596

Apparently the only objects found where this one engine and some 30 smaller parts. I have no idea what happened to the rest of the plane...

[ChristianK]

Still nothing to say here? Is it even possible to identify at least the aircraft type by this remains?

Regards,
Christian