24.Dez.1944 385th Bomb Group

[Flugplatz Giessen]

Hello,

I need informations about a crash of a B-17 from the 385th BG; 549th BS on 44/12/24. The mission was to bomb the airdrome near giessen. German Records are KU 1165 A.

Thanks a lot.

[shooshoobaby]

FG - 12/24/44
2 385th BG B -17s Collided
# 43 - 37893 S Returned To Base
# 43 - 38233 D 549 Sq.
Crashed Namur , BE.
Pilot - 2 Lt. Lawrence H. Vogt
8 KIA - 1 POW
MACR # 11113
Mike

[Horst Weber]

Good evening Flugplatz Giessen and shooshoobaby !

Shoohoobaby reported the basic reasons of this accident, a collision.

B- 17 , AAF s/n 43-38233 didn't make it to Belgium but crashed 1 km Northeast of Merlau, Kreis Alsfeld. The plane was completely damaged and caused at the impact place a crater of 12 m in diameter with a depth of 5 m. In General, the debris of the a/c covered a diameter of 3 km. Markings could be barely identified on the stabilizer as 338233.

This report was made by Aeronautical School # 1, Giessen.

A part of the perished crew was buried at the local cemetary of Merlau, some other bodies at Oberohmen, Kreis Alsfeld.

Sources are MACR 11113, KU-report # 1165A, KU 3563,
KU 3558.

Hope, this helps !

All the best !

Horst Weber

[Peglar]

Hi from Germany,

the Crew was:

Pilot Lawrence H. Vogt
Copilot James E. Anding
Navigator Victor R. Hammonds Jr.
Roy V. Capwell
Harry E. Sevick
Richard P. Rudd
Clifford F. Canterberry
William E. Johnson

Sgt. Calvin Rhodes, only survivor - died in 1989

from the great Book "Air War over Vogelsberg" from Mr. Robert Keller.


Hope this helps too.

[Flugplatz Giessen]

Hello,

thank you for the answers. Specially Horst Weber. I knew about the fate of MACR 11113 but my question was another.

Is it sure, that KU 1165A is the same crash as the loss in MACR 11113? It is possible that the 385th BG loss other planes on this day?

Any information is welcome.
TXS