looking for info on a B-17 belly landing sep 1944
 

hello,
i am looking for the identity of a B17 that made a belly landing (should be sep 44 eyewitnes)
area between HOEGAARDEN and HAUTHEM province of Brabant belgium
The crew was unhurt.
thanks in advance,
phil

Re: looking for info on a B-17 belly landing sep 1944
 

Hello ,
Perhaps his can help :

02/10/1944 Brussels 19 miles east , B-17 , crashlanding due to engine problems. Ops to Hamm , # 42-31095 from 447BG/708BS “ Ground Pounder “ Lt Zalewski

Re: looking for info on a B-17 belly landing sep 1944
 

hello Alain,
thanks for your info.
is the crew unhurt? or what other details you have?
thanks again
phil

Re: looking for info on a B-17 belly landing sep 1944
 

Philippe,

Some info here: http://www.447bg.com/42-31095.htm and even more here:
http://forum.armyairforces.com/tm.as...&mpage=1#95785

All crew safe and RTD a few days later. Not clear if pilot hadn't bailed out too, but if this B-17 is a candidate, then presumably not...

Best regards,

Leendert

Re: looking for info on a B-17 belly landing sep 1944
 

Phil,

Also found this little piece of info in the diary of Sgt. Lloyd Hall, flight engineer in 780th BS/447th BG:

2nd of October. Mission #16 to Kassel, Germany to hit the tank factory again. While assembling over the field, two planes collided and went down. We don't know just how many survived but it was very few. McGuire was killed in that accident. Then at the target another plane went down in flames but all the crew bailed out okay. On the way home, a plane from our squadron had three bad engines. The crew bailed out near Brussels and let the plane crash. We were all glad to get rid of that old clunker.

It seems here that all crew had bailed out already...

Regards,

Leendert

Re: looking for info on a B-17 belly landing sep 1944
 

hello LEENDERT
thanks for the sites and additional info.
an elderly friend was 6 years old when he remembered that B 17 in the fields but after a certain period it was guarded by americans so the kids were not allowed anymore to visit the plane.
he has been looking for a picture of it but had no luck.
due he doesn't have internet i am trying to help him with this matter and would like to thank you for your efforts to those who have given me info.
Do you have any idea where we could find pictures ?
regards
phil