B17 s/n 44-6599 486 BG

[Stephane Muret]

Hi,

I'm looking about any information about the fate of this B17 Flying Fortress from 486th BG, 833 BS. She was lost on february 22 1945 over France after a raid over Arnsbach.
Crew, place of crash ?
Any idea deeply appreciated.
Stéphane Muret

[Heuser]

Stephane,
that´s all I could find, maybe it helps:
http://www.486th.org/BS833/Ringler.htm

Regards, Heuser

[Stephane Muret]

Thank you Heuser to remember me the very good site for 486th BG. Last time i've seen it, picture from Ringler crew wasn't there.
My problem is to locate the crash site. The TG, Sgt Sibray (he wrote me several years before) bailed out not far from my home but i believe the plane continued to fly alone ... How many time ?
*Thank you for your help.
Stéphane Muret

[shooshoobaby]

This is quite a story!!! MACR # 12661
According to Bits and Pieces it crashed near Ellwangen , GE.
Mike

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Did the rest of her crew become POW's ?

The Mighty Eighth Combat Chronology Supplement has them ALL as evaded ?
NARA has only five of the ten crew listed as POW's

Alex

[shooshoobaby]

Alex - according to the List , Sgt. Charles Sibray Returned to Duty , other 9 Crewmen Evaded.
Mike

[Stephane Muret]

Alex and Shooshoobaby,

I've made searches about this plane and what i could tell you is that all crew except Sgt sibray became POW. The plane was hit by flak over target and all crew bailed out (following orders of pilot) except tail gunner who had problems with his radio. Plane continued to fly for more about an hour with auto-pilot. When Ch. Sibray discovered that he was alone, he decided (after 10 minutes) to bail out too. But he was over allied lines (east of France) and he was recovered by local authorities then US troops. He could come back to his unit. He wrote me his entire history few years before.
I've got Macr 12661 but i don't think Ellwangen (Germany) is the right place. When Sibray, last crew man in the plane decided to bail out, he was over France. February 1945, France was liberated except Colmar and other german pocket ... He wrote that he could see plane continue on.
I know some plane could fly in circle when engines stop one after one but i couldn't believe a plane wich fly south-west could suddenly fly nort-east to go back in Germany. That's why i believe the B17 44-6599 crashed in France but where ???
Any idea welcome !

Stephane Muret