B-17 #874-W 381BG November 30 1944 emergency landing in Belgium
 

Hello ,

B17 #874 from the 381BG made an emergency landing in Belgium during a mission to Merseburg on November 30 1944. The pilot of this aircraft was 1st Lt Gonzales F. is this correct

Greetings
Alain57

Re: B-17 #874-W 381BG November 30 1944 emergency landing in Belgium
 

Alain,

381st BG had a mission to Zeitz that day, 40 km S. of Merseburg. No incidents reported in Group Diary other from an abort of the formation leader Major Taylor with as pilot Gene L Demagalski.

Missions to Merseburg were on 21 and 25 Nov 1944. On 21 Nov one a/c landed at Brussels, on 25 Nov one a/c "landed away from base".

Groet, Leendert

Re: B-17 #874-W 381BG November 30 1944 emergency landing in Belgium
 

I think you have the wrong BG for Fredrico Gonzales. He was in the 398th BG. The plane was 43-37874, which was Abandoned On Continent (AOC). Here is what the fortlog has,

see page 523: https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/...ds/FORTLOG.pdf

"43-37874 Del Cheyenne 31/5/44; Kearney 9/6/44; Grenier 28/6/44; Ass 601BS/398BG [3O-W]
Nuthampstead 15/7/44; MIA 27/9/44 w/Cucco, AOC 28/9/44; re-ass 24/11/44; MIA 30/11/44 w/Gonzales &
Scott, then AOC, re-ass 17/12/44; MIA 13/1/45 w/Curtis, AOC 15/1/45, re-ass 16/2/45; MIA 8/3/45
wStarkey, AOC {A-92} 9/3/45, re-ass 29/3/45; RAF Valley 1/6/45, RetUS Bradley 6/6/45; 4168 BU Sth
Plains 22/6/45; RFC Kingman 13/12/45. GEORGIA PEACH. "

Here is the 398th formation chart for the 30/11/44 attack on Merseberg:

https://398th.org/Missions/Dates/194...1130_AA_EL.pdf

Note listing for Gonzales and Scott in 43-37874, (they were flying in deputy lead position).

This link is the formation list over the target, they note that Gonzales was MIA after leaving the target:

https://398th.org/Missions/Dates/194...1130_OT_EL.pdf


They landed at A-92 St. Trond. Gonzales returned to duty and was shot down on 23/1/45 in 44-8224 and was captured. He was the only survivor from that loss.

Re: B-17 #874-W 381BG November 30 1944 emergency landing in Belgium
 

Thank you very much for your help.

Regards Alain57

Re: B-17 #874-W 381BG November 30 1944 emergency landing in Belgium
 

Alain,

The 603rd BS Nov 1944 War Diary provided the Combat Loading List for #874:

Capt. W.F. Scott (CA), 1st Lt. F. Gonzalez (P), 2nd Lt M.J. Cingle (N), 2nd Lt I.B. Porton (B), T/Sgt O.W. Bradford (ETG), T/Sgt M.A. Konopik (R), S/Sgt P.E. Russell (BTG), S/Sgt J.J. Kelly (RW) and S/Sgt J.L. Crecelin (TG).

Groet, Leendert

Re: B-17 #874-W 381BG November 30 1944 emergency landing in Belgium
 

Hi Leendert ,
As usual , thanks for the help
Alain57