Hi Larry,
thanks for the link. I've already scoured 1944 1:100,000-scale maps (GSGS 4081 series) of the entire region without success (plus it's like looking for a needle in a haystack). Even if the location had changed name, often a google search will produce hits from Genealogy sites. In this case there is absolutely nothing.
Hi Horst,
by 13th March, the Americans held territory right up to the Rhine (as confirmed by British War Cabinet situation Maps), so this encompassed parts of western Germany.
I don't have copies of the American TM 10-630/AR 30-1815 Report of Burial forms, which would record the location where the bodies were found.
A British transcript, presumably from the Report of Burial forms, states:
X.154 RCAF Killed in action at PREISENZATH (Germany). Buried at Margraten F/4/76 [F/O E.B. Carleton DFM RCAF, MUG]. The report describes the characteristics of the body and also describes markings found on the aircraft wreckage (
"U R C K" and
"K.B.870")
X.153 RCAF as above. Buried at Margraten F/4/90 (P/O A. Sutherland RCAF, W/Op].
X.153 RCAF as above. Buried at Margraten F/4/92 [F/O H.L. Garriock RCAF, Nav].
The later Air Ministry Post-Presumption Memorandum (after the three bodies were reinterred at Nederweert British Military Cemetery) states:
Relating to LANCASTER KB.870. Crashed at PRIENSENZATH Germany.
From the RAF K-Report, surviving crew members reported they were attacked by a night fighter circa 18.40 hrs while crossing the Rhine or just after, height 14,000 feet, heading 247 Deg T. The aircraft burst into flame and the pilot ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft. The Lancaster went into a spin and then disintegrated in mid-air, the pilot stating that the propeller from the starboard inner engine came off and cut the aircraft fuselage off right behind him.
The survivors didn't know exactly where they landed, but they were picked up by American soldiers and taken to a dressing station. They thought they landed
"about ten miles west of the Rhine and 15 miles north of Munchen-Gladbach".
At this point, I'm assuming poor Anglo-American spelling of continental place names is to blame
Cheers
Rod