possible B26 crash in Belgium on 12.9.1944
 

i am doing research re an allied plane that crashed in my town Tremelo (B-3120 belgium, near Leuven, Mechelen and Brussels). According to an eye witness, this plane was an B26 in olive colours that crashlanded on 12.9.1944 and 1 crewmember perished in the crash. Unfortunately, i can not trace any crash or casualty corresponding with the date and the type of bomber.
Does somebody knows where i can find more details or has somebody more data re allied planes that were lost in Belguim ard 12.9.1944.
Many thanks in advance

Steven

Re: possible B26 crash in Belgium on 12.9.1944
 

Hello Steven ,

According to my info no B-26 was lost on september 12 1944 over Belgium . Perhaps this is the aircraft you are looking for :
05/10/1944
Tremelo
Farm Van der Veken
B-17G-75-BO
Nürnberg (662)
43-37990
384BG/547BS
SO-G
Parker’s Madhouse
Grafton Underwood
1st Lt Mock Jr John M pilot
F/O Milne Jr Alexander co-pilot
2nd Lt Allen Arthur E navigator
2nd Lt Puchalski Walter F bombardier
S/Sgt Patrizio Angelo A wgnr
S/Sgt Sweeney Robert E radio
T/Sgt Poulos William T tgnr
S/Sgt Grubbs Wilmer H wgnr
Everyone bailed out , salvaged the 14/11/44

Greets
Alain

Re: possible B26 crash in Belgium on 12.9.1944
 

Steven,

Not related at first sight, but your mysterious B-26 crash reminds me of an equally unsolved case with a similar type at Poperinge, reportedly in about the same timeframe.
A few pics exist, but the serial can't be read conclusively on all these. Yet they seem to contain (4)1-35....
No known B-26 losses however near that town with such a serial sequence.
B-26 made a belly landing, is olive drab colored, and has no distinctive group markings (making it 322nd BG?). No knowledge of casualties, if any.
Aircraft is said to have crashed due to fuel shortage.

Groet,

Leendert

Re: possible B26 crash in Belgium on 12.9.1944
 

Hello Alain,


Many thanks for your reply.
I am aware of the crash of the parkers madhouse at the farm of the Van der Veken family, the crash of this possible B26 is another which is abt 4-5 km away from the Van der Veken farm. I was in contact with the pilot of Halifax MZ453 AL-J of 429 sqn that crashed in october 1944. This man landed with his parachute in Keerbergen which is only 10 km away from the crashlocation but his whole crew could escape frm the plane and survived. Also the date is not corresponding but you never know.

Re: possible B26 crash in Belgium on 12.9.1944
 

Alas! All those allied post-liberation crashes unresolved...

ClinA-78